The application is closed - Doctoral Candidate 5 - University College Dublin, Ireland

DC5 will investigate the effectiveness of AMPs, alone and with biopolymer coatings, in preventing and disrupting biofilms on device surfaces. The project involves developing biopolymer-coated devices, characterising biofilm interactions with AMPs using confocal microscopy, and assessing their impact on biofilm structure and antibiotic sensitivity. Promising AMP-antibiotic combinations will be tested in vivo using a G. mellonella infection model for potential clinical application.

The application is closed /Application Deadline 7 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Dublin)

Learn more about this position at EURAXESS: Doctoral Candidate (PhD student position) at University College Dublin, Ireland / DC5 - SHIELD Doctoral Network

• More information at SHIELD's web page about Research Project 5

Research activities include:

• Evaluating the effect of antimicrobial peptides in polymer coated surfaces on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Assessing whether incorporation of antimicrobial peptides into these polymers can alter the matrix composition of the biofilm and what effect this has on the resistance of the biofilm to antimicrobial agents.
• Using mutants to investigate the mechanistic action of the antimicrobial peptides on biofilm formation by different pathogens.

• Using Galleria mellonella as an in vivo model to confirm the effect of antimicrobial peptides in polymer coated devices.

  Training and mobility:

• Research secondments at SHIELD partner institutions:
  • Ashland Tech. (Ireland)
  • Amicoat (Norway)
  • University Hospital Regensburg (Germany)
• Participation in specialised training workshops and international conferences.

This PhD position is part of the European Doctoral Network “SHIELD” (Strategies for Healing Implant-associated infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices), led by the University of Gothenburg. 

SHIELD offers an exciting opportunity for 16 early-career researchers to contribute to transforming the management of infections associated with medical implants. Focused on addressing the challenges posed by implant-associated infections (IAIs), SHIELD aims to deepen our understanding of IAI mechanisms and develop innovative antibacterial biomaterials to improve patient outcomes.