MSCA DN IDEAS - PhD Position DC1: Bridging order and disorder: structural and dynamical insights into coupled co-crystallisation and co-amorphisation strategies for enhancing drug dissolution

University of Pisa; Italia; On-site; EUR 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded PhD position

Job summary

University of Pisa, within the IDEAS MSCA Doctoral Network, is recruiting a Doctoral Candidate (DC1) for a 36-month PhD project. The host site at UniPI focuses on bridging order and disorder in co-crystallisation and co-amorphisation to enhance drug dissolution, with secondments to industry partners and a strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary training.

The position is fully funded under MSCA IDEAS, with a 01.03.2027 start and a 30.11.2026 application deadline.

Qualifications

• Requires MSc or equivalent in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science or a related field.
• Eligible to enroll in a PhD programme at the host institution.
• English language proficiency (B2 or higher) is required.

Responsibilities

• Manage and carry out the individual research project within IDEAS.
• Participate in IDEAS training and network activities.
• Take PhD courses and publish scientific articles.
• Present at national and international conferences and seminars.
• Undertake secondments to industry partners as arranged.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in Physics/Chemistry/Materials Science

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Pisa Department Department of Physics Research Field Physics » Condensed matter properties Physics » Chemical physics Physics » Solid state physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number MSCA-DN IDEAS-DC1-UniPI Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101312168 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

IDEAS - Improving drug efficacy with next-generation amorphous materials and trained experts.

The Marie-Skłodowska Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA DN): “Improving drug efficacy with next-generation amorphous materials and trained experts”, (IDEAS) funded by the European Community is recruiting 15 young researchers, as described here: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/474248

The doctoral candidates (DCs) will be trained not only to perform original and independent research on an internationally competitive level, but also in developing creative, critical and entrepreneurial mindsets, to be prepared for a wide spectrum of career opportunities.

The IDEAS Doctoral Network is designed to empower a new generation of young scientists in the field of amorphous pharmaceutical systems, strengthening Europe’s biotech/pharma industry and academic innovation capacity. This effort demands a unified project bringing together the cross-disciplinary expertise of academic research groups in materials science, physics, chemistry, and pharmacy, alongside industry partners. The network comprises a consortium of 7 universities (University of Lille, University of Pisa, University of Silesia in Katowice, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Université Catholique de Louvain, Trinity College Dublin, NOVA University of Lisbon), 2 large companies (Janssen Pharmaceutica, Zentiva) and 1 SME (MyBiotech). Through this programme, the fellows will collaborate to develop eco-friendly manufacturing technologies for amorphous materials, establish science-based control over material properties, and explore a wide range of materials to achieve efficient production of high-quality amorphous formulations. This advanced research-driven training will be further enriched with dedicated training events (e.g., online and in-person workshops, summer schools) and intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility through secondments. After having completed their studies and the IDEAS programme, this innovative and multidisciplinary training will qualify this new generation of scientists not only for an academic career, but also for working in industry and beyond.

Note that all of projects have their individual job advertisement. Candidates can apply for a maximum of THREE projects. The DCs will be employed by the host institution of the selected project and enrolled in the host organisation’s or affiliated university’s PhD programme.

This offer is for the Doctoral Candidate position n. 1 (DC1) within the IDEAS network

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30.11.2026

General job description

• manage and carry out the individual research project;
• participate in the IDEAS training and network activities;
• take PhD courses;
• write scientific articles and the PhD thesis;
• participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings;
• research stay at external research laboratories or company sites;
• disseminate the research outcomes;
• participate in the undergraduate teaching of students.

DC 1 at UniPI (Italy) - Bridging order and disorder: structural and dynamical insights into coupled co-crystallisation and co-amorphisation strategies for enhancing drug dissolution

Supervisory Team:Prof. Simone Capaccioli (University of Pisa), Prof. Marco Geppi (University of Pisa)

Context: Enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) remains one of the central challenges in modern drug development. Co-crystallisation and co-amorphisation have emerged as two promising solid-state strategies, each offering unique advantages for solubility and stability enhancement. However, the underlying duality and interconversion between these forms is still poorly understood, even though their local molecular organization and dynamics, which can often exhibit remarkable similarities.

Objectives: This doctoral project aims to unravel the fundamental structure–dynamics–dissolution relationships underlying co-crystallised and co-amorphous pharmaceutical systems. By integrating advanced solid-state characterisation and spectroscopy techniques, the project will establish a unified mechanistic framework explaining how structural organisation and molecular mobility influence dissolution enhancement. The ultimate goal is to enable the rational design of hybrid solid forms (e.g., semi-ordered amorphous/co-crystals) with tunable solubility and physical stability.

Expected results: Establish clear structure–dynamics–dissolution relationships that can inform the rational design of solid pharmaceutical forms; Identification of potential hybrid intermediate states combining advantageous features of both co-crystals and co-amorphous systems may offer a novel route to achieving enhanced solubility and kinetic stability; Development of predictive models and design principles that support the formulation of more effective and sustainable drug development strategies.

Research Methodology: The doctoral candidate will employ state-of-the-art solid-state and spectroscopic techniques, making large use of high-resolution solid-state NMR, nuclear spin relaxometry, and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, but also including PXRD, electron diffraction, DSC, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy to probe molecular structure and mobility. Dissolution studies in biorelevant media will be combined with kinetic modelling to quantify performance relationships. Mechanically (ball-milling) and thermally induced transitions will be examined to map transformation pathways between co-crystalline, co-amorphous, and hybrid states.

Planned secondments:

• F. Ngono Mebenga (Janssen Pharmaceutica, Belgium - 3 months)
  Exposure of the DC to industry R&D. Study of molecular interactions in developed systems.

Extent of employment: Full time

Duration of employment: Limited to 36 months

Remuneration: This doctoral position DC1 is fully funded by the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Industrial Doctorate IDEAS (HORIZON – MSCA – 2025 – DN-01-01). The monthly gross salary including salaries, social security contributions, taxes and other costs included in the remuneration under the employment contract for the doctoral candidate will comprise a living allowance of € 3820/month, and a mobility allowance of € 710/month. If the doctoral candidate meets the related eligibility requirements set out in the Grant Agreement, other allowances (e.g. family allowance) will be implemented.

General requirements for admission into IDEAS

• Applicants must hold a MSc or equivalent in the field required for the corresponding vacancy. Applicants holding only a BSc degree may also be eligible to apply for some of the positions (DC9 and DC10).
• Degree in Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering or a related discipline. For detailed requirements, see the project description of your choice.
• Experience with experimental and/or computational methods and research.
• Interest on pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical materials
• Appreciation for interdisciplinary work and proactive drive to collaborate across disciplines.
• Proficient in the English language (B2 minimum)
• Applicants must be eligible to enrol on a PhD programme at the host institution (or at a designated university in case the host institution is a non-academic organisation).
• Applicants must have the necessary academic skills and background to make the success of a doctoral degree.

Specific Requirements

Additional requirements and experience required for the research project DC1 at UniPI

Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science or similar providing access to PhD programs and should have preferably experience with experimental research.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

The applicant must comply with the following criteria to be eligible for any project in IDEAS:

• Supported researchers must be Doctoral Candidates (DCs), meaning that they must not already hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
• Recruited researchers may be of any nationality and must comply with the MSCA mobility rule. At the time of selection by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting participant for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account.
• Secondment Readiness: Candidates must be fully willing and able to relocate internationally for secondments (research stays) at other academic or industrial partner institutions within the network.
• Applicants must not have a conflict-of-interest with their future supervisors (family, relationship, economic interest…).

Start date for doctoral candidate DC1: 01.03.2027

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute University of Pisa - Department of Physics Country Italy City Pisa Postal Code 56127 Street Largo Bruno Pontecorvo, 3 Geofield