Surface Engineering for Antifouling - Coordinated Advanced Training (SEACOAT)

This is a temporary web page intended to support recruitment to the network. A more detailed web-site will be running soon

Positions available: 

11 Early Stage Researcher (PhD) Fellowships

6 Experienced Researcher (post-doc) Fellowships

Applications are invited for Early Stage Researcher Fellowships (leading to a PhD) and Experienced Researcher Fellowships (post-docs) funded through a Marie Curie Initial Training Network. Most positions are due to start on March 1^st 2010 or soon thereafter.

 The SEACOAT Network:

• The main research goal of the project is to improve understanding of biointerfacial processes involved in the colonisation of surfaces by marine fouling organisms. This will inform the future development of new, environmentally-benign materials and coatings for the practical control of marine biofouling.
   

• Our principal objective is to discover which nano- and micro-scale physico-chemical properties of surfaces influence the adhesion of fouling organisms, through the use of surface engineering technologies to fabricate coatings that vary systematically in relevant surface properties, and length scales.
   

• We will use advanced surface analytical methods to characterise test surfaces for relevant physico-chemical surface properties and how these change after immersion. Parallel adhesion bioassays using a range of representative marine organisms will test intrinsic antifouling properties of surfaces.
   

• Fellows’ individual projects will be integrated into one comprehensive research and training network which is strongly based on exchange and transfers between academia and industry. The network will also provide fellows with network-wide training activities (4 Advanced Training Courses, an international Workshop/symposium). All fellows are expected to collaborate with other Partners in the Consortium through secondments and visits.

 Individual Projects:

The table below lists the various individual project areas available in the Network. For detailed information about the individual research projects please contact the Principal Investigators shown below.

* Ph.D. candidate = Early Stage Researchers (research experience < 4 years).

Post Doc candidate = Experienced Researchers typically possess a PhD or if not, at least 4 years of equivalent full-time research experience.  The research experience of an experienced researcher may not exceed 5 years at the time of the appointment
 
Nationality:

Appointees can be nationals of any country other than the country of the premises of the primary host organization where they will carry out their project.
 
Mobility:

Appointees must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment.

Salary:

Fellows will enjoy full salary employment contracts with all social securities (assurances). PhD students will get a 3 year contract, post-docs a 1-2 year contract depending on the project. The basic gross living allowance for an Early Stage Researcher is approx. €34,500/year, and for the Experienced Researcher approx. €53,000/year. In both cases fellows receive a mobility allowance, a travel allowance and a career exploratory allowance. PhD students pay their tuition fees from their stipend (fees vary between institutions).

How to apply:

Recruitment will be competitive based on dossiers and interviews (telephone or in person). The application dossier (in English) should include:

·         a letter of motivation detailing your particular scientific experiences, knowledge, competencies and interests and indicate clearly which research projects are of interest;

·         a detailed curriculum vitae (including a list of attended Bachelors and Masters courses and certificates of the grades of examination, and the names and email addresses of two academic referees)

·         Pdfs of any theses or project reports (e.g. Masters, final Undergraduate)

·         two letters of recommendation (can be from the same persons nominated as referees)

The dossier should be sent as an electronic file to the Principal Investigator associated with each project.

Equal Opportunities:

According to the equal opportunity policy of the EC we encourage the application of women.

For further information:

Please contact the Network Coordinator (Prof JA Callow j.a.callow@bham.ac.uk) or the Principal Investigator of the home institution.