PhD Position Biomaterial Super-resolution Microscopy for Improved Cell-instructive Surfaces

Are you ready to revolutionize the future of medical implants? This fully funded PhD project will use cutting-edge imaging techniques to shed light on how cells interact with 3D-printed metal surfaces

Job description
Additive manufacturing (e.g. 3D printing) of titanium alloys has a huge potential in biomedical research and is revolutionizing medical implants that are tailored to the patient. However, controlling cellular interactions and implant integration is still not trivial because manufacturing variations in surface topography, porosity and roughness all affect the final cellular behaviour and functionality.

The goal of this project is to reveal how cells organize at the nanoscale to explain their different cellular responses to varying 3D-printed biomaterial surfaces. Advances in imaging allow visualization of these processes with unprecedented resolution. You will now establish state-of-the-art live and super-resolution microscopy on the challenging interface of opaque biomaterials. By harnessing the versatility of metal 3D-printing and imaging various cell types with high spatial and temporal resolution 3D-printing you will elucidate the structure-function relationship between nanoscale mechanobiology and cellular behaviour. This will lead to new design rules towards improved cell-biomaterial interactions in for example implants.

In this fully funded PhD position, you will be part of a multidisciplinary team and supervised by Roderick Tas and Amir Zadpoor. You will be part of the Biomaterials and Tissue biomechanics section with the unique infrastructure and expertise to combine molecular biology, biochemistry and single molecule super-resolution imaging with additive manufacturing and biomaterial design.

Job requirement
A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Molecular Biology, Chemistry Biomedical engineering, Nanotechnology or related discipline.
A strong research-oriented and collaborative attitude to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
Fluent in spoken and written English.
The candidate preferentially has research experience (e.g. internships) related to the project (Imaging, molecular biology, biomaterials).

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Roderick Tas, via R.P.Tas@tudelft.nl or Amir Zadpoor A.A.Zadpoor@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 9 Dec 2024 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Roderick Tas.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• A knowledge security check will be part of the selection procedure.
  (for details page 45: national knowledge security guidelines)
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.