Research Assistant - Grant

Job description / Role

Job Description

A postdoctoral/Research Assistant position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Sahar Mohsin at College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to fabricate porous strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) doped nano-hydroxyappatite and polymer composite bone scaffolds for clinical applications.

The potential candidate will be involved in the synthesis and characterization of strontium and zinc doped nano-hydroxyappatite and using this material in making a composite scaffold using a polymer (PLGA). The bioactivity and biocompatibility of Sr and Zn doped n-Hap and PLGA composite scaffolds will be investigated by demonstrating the ability of these scaffolds to promote an osteogenic cell attachment, growth and differentiation.

The position is supported by ADEK Award for Research Excellence (AARE-2018) grant from the Ministry of Education, UAE. The, funds are made available for one year which can be extended for another year.

The UAE is an open and tolerant society and clearly one of the most attractive places to live and work in the Middle East. The CMHS is situated in the City of Al Ain, which is known as the 'Garden City of the Gulf'. Al-Ain is based around the ancient 'Burami Oases' which have a history of settlement going back over 5000 years. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are only an hour's drive on a dual lane motorway.

Requirements

Minimum Qualification
• Applicants should possess a Bachelor's degree/Master's degree in relevant field

Preferred Qualification
• PhD

Expected Skills/Rank/Experience
• The candidate must have technical skills to conduct experiments using sol-gel and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) techniques. We will be using FTIR, XRD, EDS, cell culture and mechanical testing along with various imaging techniques to characterize scaffolds. Basic know how of these techniques will be of advantage.

About the Company

Founded in 1976 by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAEU is a comprehensive, research-intensive university enrolling about 14,000 Emirati and international students. As the UAE’s flagship university, UAEU offers a full range of accredited, high-quality graduate and undergraduate programs through nine Colleges: Business and Economics; Education; Engineering; Food and Agriculture; Humanities and Social Sciences; IT; Law; Medicine and Health Sciences; and Science. With a distinguished international faculty, state-of-the art new campus, and full range of student support services, UAEU offers a living-learning environment that is unmatched in the UAE.

As a research-intensive university of international stature, UAEU works with its partners in industry to provide research solutions to challenges faced by the nation, the region, and the world. The University has established research centers of strategic importance to the country and the region which are advancing knowledge in critical areas ranging from water resources to cancer treatments. UAEU is currently ranked the number one research university in the GCC, number two in the Arab World, and #370 globally.

UAEU’s academic programs have been developed in partnership with employers, so our graduates are in high demand. UAEU alumni hold key positions in industry, commerce, and government throughout the region. Our continuing investments in facilities, services, and staff ensure that UAEU will continue to serve as a model of innovation and excellence.