Admission to Doctoral (PhD) Studies in the subject of Medical Cell Biology with specialization in Bioprinting at the Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University
About the Company BrinterAM and Department of Medical Cell Biology
Brinter AM Technologies Oy is a Finnish deep-tech company headquartered in Turku, specialising in modular 3D bioprinting and pharmaceutical printing solutions for research, clinical, and industrial applications. Brinter AM develops versatile additive manufacturing systems that integrate various technologies. The company works at the intersection of life sciences, automation, and advanced manufacturing, contributing to several EU-funded projects in the fields of tissue engineering, personalised medicine, and ATMP production.
Brinter AM operates within a strong innovation and regulatory ecosystem and collaborates with leading universities, hospitals, and industry partners. Its compact and scalable platforms support both R&D and GMP-compliant workflows. The company’s international team brings together engineers, scientists, and clinicians to develop next-generation 3D bioprinters and therapeutic solutions.
The Department of Medical Cell Biology at Uppsala University is a dynamic and international research environment focusing on cell biological and physiological solutions to important societal challenges. Research at the department spans areas such as diabetes, inflammation, cancer, neurobiology, and cell signaling, and includes activities within 3D manufacturing for life science applications. The department also hosts the U-PRINT 3D bioprinting facility, which provides infrastructure and expertise to support research in this area. The department hosts over 30 doctoral students and plays a key role in teaching anatomy, histology, cell biology, and physiology within several educational programs.
Project description
This project is part of the EU-funded Print4Life, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) doctoral network led by Prof. Persson, group leader of BmS. This network has 8 doctoral candidate host institutions: Uppsala University, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Dublin City University, Universidade do Minho, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Gmbh, Hydrumedical SA, Brinter AM Technologues oy, ETH Zürich; and 6 additional partners: FHNW, PBC Ltd, XapHe, Quintus Technologies AB, CAU ZU Kiel and Region Uppsala (Uppsala University Hospital). The network aims to provide Advanced Research Training for Additive Manufacturing of the Biomaterials and Tissues of the Future. You will be one of 17 doctoral students across the entire network, and one of two doctoral candidates based in this particular research group.
This PhD project (DC3) is part of the EU-funded Print4Life Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN), coordinated by Prof. Cecilia Persson. Print4Life includes 8 host institutions and 6 associated partners, aiming to provide advanced research training in additive manufacturing (AM) for future biomaterials and tissue models.
DC3 will be based at Brinter AM Technologies in Turku, Finland, and enrolled in the doctoral programme at Uppsala University, Sweden.
The project focuses on developing bioprinted 3D tissue models to study tumour invasion and immune response. The recruited doctoral candidate will conduct interdisciplinary research to develop bioprinted in vitro tissue models that mimic tumour invasion and immune responses, using advanced extrusion-based bioprinting and ECM-derived bioinks to fabricate 3D microenvironments for mechanistic studies of tumour–immune interactions.
Project Objectives:
• Develop novel ECM-based bioinks derived from healthy and cancerous tissues (in collaboration with Uppsala University).
• Use extrusion-based bioprinting to fabricate 3D models mimicking the tumour microenvironment.
• Embed tumour spheroids and study their interaction with immune cells.
• Evaluate cell mechanobiology and immune infiltration using gradient-density hydrogels.
Part of the research will be conducted in collaboration with other doctoral students, academic institutions, and industry partners.
The study period includes both short and long research stays at Uppsala University in Sweden, along with a shorter stay at the University of Minho in Portugal.
The main supervisor will be Ass. Prof. Gry Hulsart Billström, with co-supervisor Prof. Cecilia Persson (Uppsala University) and industry co-supervisors Mr. Tomi Kalpio (Brinter AM Technologies in Finland) and Mr. Dhayakumar Rajan (Brinter AM Technologies in Finland).
Duties
The main duty for a doctoral student is to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and PhD courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).
Being a PhD student means independently running projects within a specific subject. You collaborate on an ongoing basis with other doctoral students and researchers to create results within various projects and have one or more supervisors for support during your doctoral studies. However, you work independently to a great amount, e.g. by working in a laboratory environment and writing articles for journals and for results for your doctoral thesis. A half-time seminar is included after about half of the doctoral studies.
Main tasks in this project include:
The main duties of the PhD student include:
- Design and formulation of ECM-based bioinks derived from cancerous and healthy tissues (in collaboration with Uppsala University)
- Optimization of bioprinting protocols using BrinterAM’s modular printing platforms
- Mechanical and rheological characterization of bioinks
- Development and validation of in vitro models for tumour growth, spheroid invasion, and immune cell infiltration
- High-throughput screening of immune responses in tunable 3D matrices
- Active participation in Print4Life network-wide training events, conferences, and dissemination activities
- An important component of the position is to compile and critically analyse the data generated through the above-mentioned activities and to prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- The PhD student is expected to work in close collaboration with other researchers and partners within the Print4Life network.
Requirements
A Master’s degree in biomedical engineering, tissue engineering or regenerative medicine, materials science, biology, biophysics, biotechnology, or a related field is required. Applicants should have documented experience in one or more of the following areas: 3D cell culture, biomaterials or hydrogels, bioprinting, cancer biology, or immunology.
We require good oral and written skills in English.
Preferred / Beneficial:
• Prior experience with bioprinting or other 3D fabrication techniques.
• Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or bioprinting path design tools).
• Experience or strong interest in microfluidics or biofabrication system design.
• Experience in biomaterials, hydrogel formulation, cancer biology, or immunology is considered an advantage.
• Candidates who may not yet have experience in bioprinting or microfluidics but demonstrate clear motivation and willingness to learn these methods are strongly encouraged to apply.
Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University’s rules and guidelines.
To be eligible as a MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) doctoral candidate, you must not have a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment, be enrolled in a doctoral program, and comply with a mobility rule requiring you to not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country (Finland and Sweden) for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment (i.e. this includes online activities).
Great emphasis is put on personal qualities such as the ability to independently plan and carry out work. You have a good ability to work towards set goals and you work focused to achieve them. In this, you have an ability to focus, even during periods of high workload. You have good communication skills, where through this quality you cooperate well with others. You also have a good ability to write academic text.
- A short cover letter in which you describe yourself, why you want to do a PhD and why you are suitable for this position.
- CV (max 2 pages)
- A certified copy of your master’s degree and your course grades.
- Copies (or drafts) of your master’s thesis and other documents, such as publications, that you wish to refer to.
- Names and contact details of at least two contact persons who have accepted to be references for you, with any additional letters of recommendation. It must also be stated what relationship you have had with the respective referent.
Please send your application package as a PDF or as an individual file with your last name to the below mentioned email address
Tomi Kalpio / Dhayakumar Rajan Prakash , contact@brinteram.com
Gry Hulsart Billström , gry.hulsart_billstrom@mcb.uu.se
MSCA Mobility Rule (Strict Eligibility Condition)
To be eligible for this Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) position, the applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland and Sweden — the host country of Brinter AM Technologies Oy — for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the expected recruitment date (1 March 2026).
This means:
- You are eligible if you have lived, studied, or worked outside Finland and Sweden for at least 24 of the past 36 months (short visits such as holidays or conferences do not count).
- You are not eligible if you have lived, studied, or worked in Finland and Sweden for more than 12 months during that same period, even if you are not Finnish or currently living elsewhere.
Only candidates fulfilling this mobility requirement can be considered for recruitment under the MSCA program.
About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 1st March 2026 or as agreed upon. Placement: Turku
PhD students employed through the Marie Sklodowska Curie program will receive a salary in accordance with the Marie Curie regulations for doctoral candidates for the time of their fellowship (36 months). This means that gross salary is approx. 5442 eur / month (without family allowance) employee’s national and local taxes will be deducted from this gross salary before payment of the net salary to the doctoral candidate.
The position may be subject to security vetting. If security vetting is conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.
Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.
For further information about the position, please contact:
Tomi Kalpio / Dhayakumar Rajan Prakash , contact@brinteram.com
Gry Hulsart Billström , gry.hulsart_billstrom@mcb.uu.se
Please submit your application by 31st December 2025, UFV-PA 2025/2929
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