PhD candidate/Italy/MSCA-DN- RENOVATE-DC06/Innovative biomaterials for biomimetic scaffolds for bone/cartilage tissue regeneration

26 Feb 2026
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Niccolò Cusano University

Department

Engineering

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

PhD Positions

Application Deadline

28 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome)

Country

Italy

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Offer Starting Date

1 Jun 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA

Reference Number

101227121/ DC06

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101227121

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

At the University Niccolò Cusano-Engineering Department we are looking in the Materials Science and Technology Group for a full time position for a PhD candidate. The position is initially limited to a period of 3 years. An extension will be sought if suitable. Any such waiver will not be subjected to remuneration.

The Materials Science and Technology Group is leaded by Prof. Ilaria Cacciotti, Full Professor and Coordinator of the Ph.D. Course in Advanced Modelling, Materials and Technologies (AMOMAT). The Research Group has consolidated experience in the formulation, synthesis, processing of bioceramics, biopolymers and biocomposites for tissue engineering, also involving electrospinning and additive manufacturing technologies.

The doctoral thesis will be in the context of the general MSCA-DN project RENOVATE (Regenerative engineering innovation in early intervention of osteoarthritis). This project aims the following main objectives:

• Define patient-specific key functional and mechanical requirements for large osteochondral scaffolds.
• Produce biocompatible porous 3D structures that mimic osteochondral tissue native hierarchical structures starting from alternative biomaterials, bioinks and nanocomposites.
• Produce multi-material graded OC scaffolds according to patient-specific key functional and mechanical requirements developing a novel optimisation methodology to produce Functionally Graded Additive Manufacturing (FGAM) large osteochondral scaffolds.

 

Job description

Description of the proposed doctoral individual project:

The doctoral candidate will carry out the individual project titled: “Innovative biomaterials for biomimetic scaffolds for bone/cartilage tissue regeneration”. 

Objectives: 

-to formulate innovative compositions of biocomposites based on bioceramics and biopolymers for the cartilage and bone regeneration;

- to process the selected compositions and produce biopolymeric and nanocomposite fibrous mats by electrospinning technique; 

-to functionalise the prepared systems with suitable drugs, cells and/or growth factors, in order to provide antimicrobial/antioxidant/anti-inflammatory features;

- to fully characterise the produced scaffolds. 

 

The doctoral candidate will be enrolled in the PhD program Advanced Modelling MAterials and Technologies (AMOMAT) (University of Niccolò Cusano, Engineering Department) and the supervisor will be Ilaria Cacciotti (orcid 0000-0002-3478-6510). Secondments to other partners of the consortium will be carried out during the project in different periods (total of 6 months)

 

Salary and allowances

Duration of the employment: 36 months since 1st June 2026 (expected date of the recruitment)   

Living allowance: 3088 € Gross per month (37,056.00 € / year).

The net salary will result from deducting all compulsory (employer/employee) national social security contributions as well as direct taxes

 

Benefits

710 € Mobility Allowance per month (8.540€ / year)

495 € Family Allowance per month (5.920€ / year) - Applicable only when the recruited doctoral candidate has family obligations according to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie rules, i.e., when the recruited Doctoral candidate has persons linked to him/her by: 

1.  marriage, or 

2. a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalised;

 or

 3. dependent children who are actually being maintained by the doctoral candidate

Where to apply

E-mail

renovate_msca-dn@unicusano.it

Website

https://www.unicusano.it/wp-content/uploads/concorsi/incarichi_ricerca/2026.02…

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Essential requirements

The Ph.D. Candidate should have expertise in the synthesis, processing and characterization of biomaterials.

Desired requirements

The knowledge of electrospinning and addivitive manufacturing approaches is desired.

Specific Requirements

Mobility eligility criterion: Candidates can be of any nationality, but they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. 

They must also have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Additional Information
Benefits

710 € Mobility Allowance per month (8.540€ / year)

495 € Family Allowance per month (5.920€ / year) - Applicable only when the recruited doctoral candidate has family obligations according to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie rules, i.e., when the recruited Doctoral candidate has persons linked to him/her by: 

1.  marriage, or 

2. a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalised;

 or

 3. dependent children who are actually being maintained by the doctoral candidate

The Family Allowance, if applicable. would be paid as part of the salary

Eligibility criteria

Mobility eligility criterion: Candidates can be of any nationality, but they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. 

They must also have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Selection process

 

The selection process of DCs complies with ethical principles, including the highest standards of research integrity as set out in the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and, all applicable international, EU and national law, including the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Supplementary Protocols.

 

Eligibility check

The project manager of RENOVATE will check that the information of each candidate is complete and comply with the rules of the eligibility criteria. All the candidates must submit their information in English.

 

Information from eligible candidates directly applying to each position or giving their permission to be considered for others, will be distributed among the host institutions. Not eligible candidates will be notified via email.

 

Assessment

Assessment comprises a two-stage process: a) scientific merit assessed by the application files and b) online interview (only for the short-listed candidates selected in stage a)). In each stage, the following items will be addressed: (i) academic profile, (ii) personal motivation, (iii) relevant background, (iv) professional experience, (v) scientific knowledge, (vi) transversal skills, and (vii) soft skills and English proficiency. 

 

A Selection Committee, led by the RENOVATE coordinator, will be set up at each host institution. Each DC Selection Committee will short-list the best candidates among those applying for the DC position and produce a reserve list of potentially interesting candidates. 

 

Decision

The project manager will elaborate the final ranked list of the selected candidates and communicate the decision to the candidates by email tentatively by 30 May 2026.

 

For more information please contact Dr. Damiano Zaghini (email address: damiano.zaghini@unicusano.it ) for administrative requests, Prof. Ilaria Cacciotti (email address: Ilaria.cacciotti@unicusano.it ) for scientific requests.

Additional comments

Candidates are required to submit the following documents by ordinary mail to the both following addresses: renovate_msca-dn@unicusano.it and dn-renovate@ulpgc.es :

 1. a complete CV in Europass Format in English that must highlight activities and place where the activities have been carried out in order to give evidence of fulfilling the mobility eligibility criterion . Use the template available at https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/it/documents/curriculum-vitae/templa …- instructions;

3. a motivation letter, in English, highlighting the consistency between the candidate‘s profile and the chosen DC position for which he/she is

 applying;

 4. at least 2 contact names and e-mails of Academic reference (we’ll contact them to require a letter of support)

 5. scan of the graduate and post-graduated degree qualification, with certified translation in English (if the degree qualification is not in English);

 6. proof of language proficiency if any;

 7. scanned copy of valid identification document (identity card or passport);

8. signed eligibility form available on the website https://dn-renovate.ulpgc.es/recruitment/  for download

9. signed application form available on the websitehttps://dn-renovate.ulpgc.es/recruitment/ for download

Website for additional job details

https://www.unicusano.it/wp-content/uploads/concorsi/incarichi_ricerca/2026.02…

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Università degli Studi di Roma Niccolò Cusano

Country

Italy

State/Province

RM

City

Rome

Postal Code

00166

Street

via Don Carlo Gnocchi 3

Geofield

Contact

State/Province

Italy

City

Rome

Website

https://www.unicusano.it/

Street

don carlo gnocchi 3

Postal Code

00166

E-Mail

damiano.zaghini@unicusano.it
ilaria.cacciotti@unicusano.it

STATUS: EXPIRED

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Whatsapp
• 
  More share options
  • E-mail
  • Pocket
  • Viadeo
  • Gmail
  • Weibo
  • Blogger
  • Qzone
  • YahooMail