Research Fellow Department of Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemical and Process Engineering

Research Fellow position ‘Developing an end-to-end modelling workflow for predicting dermal absorption’ (Up to 12 months contract) Project outline In-silico prediction of transdermal absorption is important for dermatological drugs, skin care as well as prevention of environmental damage and virus transmission. A leading edge multiscale physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model of transdermal absorption has been developed at the University of Surrey in collaboration with Unilever. This multiscale approach combines several advanced in silico modelling methods including molecular dynamics, quantum chemistry, quantitative structure property relationships and computational fluid dynamics. This project aims to build a new workflow to integrate the existing multiscale software tools, including molecular dynamics (using Gromacs), quantum chemistry (using COSMOmic) , our latest physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model of dermal absorption, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Scripting programming languages will be used to link these diverse tools into an established workflow software (e.g. Pipeline Pilot or KNIME). Finally, the utility of the workflow tool will be demonstrated by investigating the impact of product attributes on dermal deposition and absorption. Candidate profile The ideal candidates should have a PhD (or close to PhD completion), strong capability of computer simulation and programming, and appropriate experience in one or more of the following topics: biophysics, physical chemistry, mass transfer, fluid dynamics, or molecular dynamics. This is a one-year postdoc position jointly supervised with the industrial funder (a leading multi-national company in the consumer goods sector). The post is expected to start in December 2021 or soon afterwards. InquiryFor an informal inquiry and discussion of the role, please contact Professor Tao Chen (t.chen@surrey.ac.uk), Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, University of Surrey.

Further details:

• Job Description

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The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all.  We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community.  Therefore we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.