Ash Spec Ireland Ltd

Doctoral Candidate / PhD position at Ashland Specialties Ireland Limited

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

About the role

The position is part of the European Doctoral Network “SHIELD” (Strategies for Healing Implant-associated infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices). SHIELD offers an exciting opportunity for 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.

Objectives

This PhD project will focus on developing advanced surface patterning and coatings and evaluate preclinically their potential as protective barriers to inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation while maintaining biocompatibility and promoting tissue regeneration. The doctoral candidate will develop bioresorbable polymers with controlled degradability, enhanced antimicrobial activity, and tunable mechanical properties suitable for clinical application. These approaches will be ultimately evaluated in a very close collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) where the PhD candidate will be registered and co-supervised by Associate Professor Oran Kennedy from RCSI.

Research activities include

Material Synthesis: Develop novel bioresorbable polymers incorporating non-toxic antimicrobial agents.
Surface Functionalisation: Apply chemical techniques to enhance surface biocompatibility and prevent bacterial adhesion
Characterisation:
- Assess physical and mechanical properties
- Evaluate antimicrobial efficacy against clinically relevant pathogens
- Conduct in vitro biocompatibility
Biological Testing:
- Perform in vitro and in vivo studies to assess tissue response and biofilm resistance
- Investigate biofilm formation and intracellular survival

Training and mobility

The PhD candidate will participate in research secondments at SHIELD partner institutions:

University College Dublin, Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland
Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
Take part in specialized training workshops and international congress

Skills, Qualifications, Specific Requirements

Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Engineering or similar providing access to PhD programs and should have experience with experimental research.
Applicants must have excellent proficiency in written and spoken English.
Strong motivation and ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary and international team

Application/Eligibility criteria

PhD researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.
Career stage: applicants must be within the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers at the date of recruitment (measured from the degree obtention date) to be eligible
International mobility: candidates must not have resided or conducted their main activity (work, studies…) in Ireland for more than 12 months within the 3 years immediately preceding their recruitment.
Interested candidates should send an application containing the following documents, in English:
- Motivation Letter (describing research career goals, skills, and experience)
- A complete Curriculum Vitae with references to past research and training experiences
Deadline: 31st October 2025

Further information

Benefits: The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of 36 months (PhD student, regular full-time employment contract), with an attractive salary plus allowances package according to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie / Innovative Training Networks rules
Background material about host institution & research groups can be found here:

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.

At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.

Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.

Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.

PhD Intern

Job Description