Research Associate

A postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) position is available for 6 months (50% time-effort) to contribute to the project: Development & Validation of a Multi-functional, Multi-purpose Quantitative Tool for Dermal Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling.

This opportunity falls within an ongoing collaboration with the University of Reading, Colorado School of Mines, the company Simulations Plus, and the FDA. Bath’s contribution involves primarily the generation of experimental data to guide development of this enhanced PBPK model by formulating products and the characterization of their metamorphotic events and their kinetics.

Specifically, this PDRA will contribute to the project by:

1. identifying a set of critical quality attributes of topical products in their starting “as in the tube” condition, and in the residual film that forms after application to the skin,
2. describing the kinetics of metamorphosis and associated events;
3. investigating formulation compositional changes during metamorphosis and how these may impact of the drug properties, including its physical state and thermodynamic activity, and skin absorption; and
4. investigating the manner in which this information might be exploited by a PBPK model.

This challenging, fast-pace work will involve a range of techniques such as IVPT, confocal Raman microscopy, X-ray, FT-IR/ATR-FT-IR, viscometry, HPLC and MS tools among others. A successful candidate will be experienced in some of these techniques and will pro-actively propose and test other approaches and tools which may be informative for the research aims. Some background on skin formulation and percutaneous permeation is desirable. The successful candidate will have demonstrated capacity for carrying independent research including provision of technical reports, scientific outputs and efficient data presenting and sharing with the extended grant team and funders. You might be required to perform some experiments at the University of Reading.

About you:

1. Contribute to the choice of formulations which will be used to elucidate the metamorphosis process, and identify relevant, quality and other drug and formulation characteristics that can inform about the metamorphosis process and its impact on drug absorption.
2. Conduct experiments to characterise the starting product, the residual phase and intermediate transition phase (as relevant). This may include a broad range of techniques such as solvent evaporation assessment, active physical status (precipitation, supersaturation) HPLC-MS, X-ray, Raman microscopy, FT-IR, ATR-FT-IR, thermogravimetry, viscometry, etc.
3. Conduct data processing, analysis, and interpretation in collaboration with research partners and ensure prompt interactions within the team to advance the project.
4. Participate in monthly meetings with stakeholders (regulators, industry, research networks, as relevant). The PDRA will play a key role in these meetings presenting latest results and acquiring background information required for data interpretation and the planning of future steps.
5. Contribute to scientific outcomes (conference presentations, scientific articles) of the grant.
6. Together with other researchers, ensure that University of Bath policies, including but not limited to health and safety, research integrity guidelines and SOPs are observed.

The appointee to the position should understand, & have first-hand experience of the techniques used for characterizing the physical state of drugs & formulations (microscopy and spectroscopic imaging methods) and for investigating compositional changes in formulations.

Enquiries and applications, including a full CV, list of publications/presentations, and 2 letters of reference, to:

Prof. Begoña Delgado-Charro (b.delgado-charro@bath.ac.uk) University of Bath, Department of Life Sciences, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

Further information

This role is offered on a part-time (18.25 hours per week) fixed-term basis with an expected start date of 01/03/2026 for an expected period of 6 months.

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