Openings at ECTM
Open PhD student positions in Si/polymer-based Organs-on-Chip technology
Opening for: PhD studentStatus details
| Status: | Closed |
|---|---|
| Announced: | 07 Dec 2017 |
| Duration: | 4 |
Within the Netherlands Organ-on-Chip Initiative (NOCI) funded by NWO, the ECTM lab of TU Delft is currently looking for enthusiastic and motivated PhD students to investigate & develop novel wafer-scale microfabrication technologies for advanced silicon- & polymer-based Organs-on-Chip (OOC) platforms.
OOC systems are microfluidic cell culture devices that emulate in vivo-like microenvironments to support the expression of properties and functions of human tissues and organs. Compared to existing in vitro cell cultures, such microphysiological systems represent more realistic models that should enhance pre-clinical screening of the effect of drugs and other compounds on the human body. The Cytostrecth previously developed at TU Delft is an optically- and electrically-addressable platform where cell tissues can be grown, perfused with nutrients and subjected to mechanical stresses. Our grand, multi-disciplinary challenge is building on top of the knowledge and expertise matured through the Cytostretch, and going beyond it by devising novel integrated sensing, actuation and readout devices to stimulate and monitor organ properties in wafer-scale microfabricated platforms.
The research will eminently entail the technological development and integration of:
- 2D/3D Si/polymer structures and surface treatments to promote cell organization
- Multiple sensor types to on-line monitor tissues & microenvironmental conditions
- Electronic readout and peripheral circuitry to extract relevant physiological signals
- Alternative cell motion and stimulation mechanisms (e.g., electric, magnetic)
- Optimized flow/structure interactions
Requirements
Candidates with strong interest and experience in micro/nanofabrication, material engineering and bioengineering are encouraged to apply or enquire by contacting Prof. Sarro (p.m.sarro@tudelft.nl) and Dr. Mastrangeli (m.mastrangeli@tudelft.nl).A master degree in electronic or biomedical engineering, material science or related fields is required to apply for these positions.
Applications should include the candidate’s curriculum vitae, motivation letter and list of potential references.
Contact
dr. Massimo Mastrangeli
Associate Professor
Electronic Components, Technology and Materials Group
Department of Microelectronics
Additional information
In The Netherlands, almost all PhD positions are linked to funded research projects. This has several implications:- PhD students are employed: they receive a salary rather than a grant. Most projects have a duration of 4 years.
- Positions become available once a project is funded. This can happen at any time during the year.
- It typically takes 6 to 9 months for a project proposal to receive funding. In this period, a position may be anticipated but the outcome remains insecure. Once a project is funded, the open position needs to be filled as soon as possible.
If you are interested in our research, it merits to inquire whether openings will be available. We collect resumes of prospective PhD students throughout the year, for each of our research tracks.
General requirements
We make our selection based on the following general requirements:- Formal requirements regarding prior education: you should have earned an MSc degree at a recognized institute for higher education.
- Background: this depends on the specific project.
- Excellence: your Grade-Point-Average should be above 8 (10). Also your MSc thesis should have received a grade above 8 (10).
- English: you should be able to communicate well in english (written and oral). Provide TOEFL/IELTS scores if available.
- Originality: your MSc thesis or later work (publications) should reflect some original ideas. Critical and independent thinking is very important.
- Team player: you should be able to work well in a team of other project members.
