PhD Position: Development of Magnesium-based biodegradable microdevices for drug delivery

Organisation/Company Politecnico di Milano Department Mechanical Engineering Department Research Field Engineering › Biomedical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 25 Aug 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101312169 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi) seeks a highly motivated PhD candidate for a fully funded, international doctoral position within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) project MicroMan4Health (website: https://www.microman4health.eu/ ), Data-Centric Micromanufacturing Platform Towards Added Value in the Health Sector. The shift from process-centric to data-centric micromanufacturing constitutes a paradigm evolution in how knowledge, control, and value will be created in micromanufacturing platforms for the health sector.

About the host Politecnico di Milano is a leading Italian technical university where more than 45.000 engineers, architects and designers are educated each year. PoliMi has always aimed at the quality and innovation of teaching and research by developing a fruitful relationship with the economic and industrial sectors.

Research background Manufacturing of microcomponents as intraocular drug-delivery carriers places extreme demands on tolerances and functional quality. The design of such components needs a better definition of requirements to assure their functionality, intersected with their manufacturability at the extreme end of achievable accuracy. Moreover, support is needed towards future automated process planning and Digital Product Passport requirements.

Research objectives This doctoral project aims to establish a fully digitalized and traceable process chain for manufacturing magnesium-based biodegradable intraocular drug-delivery carriers. The work focuses on defining process tolerances, mapping each step of the manufacturing workflow, and creating a process planning ontology that links machines, fixtures, parameters and constraints to support future automated planning and Digital Product Passport requirements. Using IIoT-enabled tracking and bio-metrology, the project will validate a robust and repeatable production route for industrial-scale micro-carrier fabrication.

Define and characterise the complete process chain for producing magnesium-based intraocular micro-carriers

Implement a process-planning ontology integrating resources, capabilities and constraints

Develop IIoT-based traceability aligned with Digital Product Passport requirements

Expected results include:

Validated tolerances and certified verification procedures for micro-carrier components

A comprehensive ontology describing all machines, tools, parameters and constraints required for scalable fabrication of magnesium-based biodegradable drug-delivery carriers.

Validation and industrial relevance The research builds on MgShell’s expertise in biodegradable drug-delivery technologies ( https://www.mgshell.com ) and Politecnico di Milano’s strengths in microfabrication and digital machining. Secondments include MgShell (3 months) for industrial process definition, the HUD (University of Huddersfield)(2 months) for bio-metrological verification, and KUL (KU Leuven)(1 month) for microfabrication process-chain analysis.

A.1 You do not yet hold a doctoral degree

A.2 You hold (or will shortly complete) a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering or a closely related discipline, with very good results, qualifying you for admission to a doctoral programme. Knowledge of non-ferrous material properties and behaviour in MedTech applications (e.g. corrosion) and their characterisation is fundamental

B. Technical skills B.1 Strong interest and hands‑on experience in advanced/micro manufacturing, precision engineering and digital manufacturing, especially related to the MedTech‑oriented context

B.2 Hands‑on experience in quality assurance, data science, data‑driven modelling, digital manufacturing workflows, and Digital Product Passport

B.3 Hands‑on experience in machine learning, ontologies and knowledge graphs, IIoT and digital‑twin concepts, and programming (e.g. Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW or similar engineering software)

B.4 Strong interest in metrology

B.5 Experience in working with experimental setups, laboratory equipment, measurement equipment, process monitoring, and surface‑characterisation tools

B.6 Practical knowledge of design of experiments (DoE), statistical analysis and scientific presentation

C. Research focus C.1 Strong interest in data‑driven quality control, digitalisation of manufacturing, and high‑precision (micro)manufacturing in an industrial, MedTech‑oriented context

C.2 Motivation to conduct independent doctoral research (enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD programme at PoliMi and meeting its requirements) in a multidisciplinary, international team, including hands‑on experimental work and the mandatory international secondments with industrial and academic partners and including the carrying out and management of lab service activities

C.3 Motivation to publish research findings in international journals, present results at conferences, fulfil project deliverables

D. Communication D.1 Excellent command of English (spoken and written) with Toefl or IELTS scores

D.2 Ability to communicate research results clearly, both in writing and verbally

D.3 Ready to contribute to project activities, training events, and dissemination efforts

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Internal Application form(s) needed

PhD_Vacancy_PoliMi_MicroMan4Health_DC6_EURAXESS.pdf

Funded full‑time doctoral position within an international, application‑oriented research network, with structured doctoral training and individual career development

Remuneration package provided according to the MSCA Doctoral Network rules and competitive with industry standards in Italy and Europe

Duration: fixed‑term for the funded doctoral project, 36 months

International academic and industrial experience: three industrial/academic secondments (MgShell, HUD and KUL)

As part of the MicroMan4Health Doctoral Network, you will participate in several international doctoral training programs (~ 12 weeks over 3 years) at different European locations

Excellent guidance by both University and industry experts and access to advanced lab infrastructure with state‑of‑the‑art non‑conventional machining equipment

Opportunities to network and present your research at international conferences.

Eligibility criteria As this position is funded under the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions, the following eligibility rules apply:

Mobility rule: at the time of recruitment, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before your recruitment (planned start: autumn 2026)

Doctoral status: you must not already hold a doctoral degree at the start of the appointment

Selection process

The selection process will be overseen by Prof. Massimiliano Annoni (Politecnico di Milano)

Criteria: applications will be assessed based on candidates’ fulfilment of the requirements for the relevant profile (points A, B, C, D and subpoints)

The network adheres to the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, ensuring a transparent and fair, merit‑based selection process. We value not only academic grades but also teamwork, interdisciplinary knowledge and soft skills.

PoliMi is committed to diversity and inclusion. We expressly welcome applications from women and from people of all backgrounds; persons with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if equally qualified.

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