PhD in Imaging ice-interactive biomaterials

Position PhD-student

Irène Curie Fellowship No

Department(s) Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

FTE 1,0

Date off 30/06/2024

Reference number V37.7557

Job description

Join us – we look forward to welcoming you to our Self-Organizing Soft Matter Research Group at Eindhoven University of Technology!

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD Researcher with a passion for quantitative microscopy and physical chemistry of self-assembling materials to join our team to image the behavior of ice-interactive biomaterials on ice with single-molecule resolution. The goal of your project is to develop and use state-of-the-art microscopy tools and quantitative image analysis approaches to discover the physical principles underpinning the activity of novel ice-interactive biomaterials and to tune their interaction with ice to modulate activity as desired.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct high-quality, curiosity-driven, original, and independent research focusing on imaging of self-assembling and ice-interactive biomaterials
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary and international team of researchers
• Present research findings at conferences and publish in top-tier scientific journals

The formation and growth of ice during freezing, storage, and/or thawing of cryopreserved materials limits the potential of cryopreservation technology for the long-term storage of sensitive materials, such as cells, tissues, and organs. Our group aims to unravel how biological and engineered ice-interactive materials function so that we can create customized chemical cryoprotectants for biomedical and other applications. Recently, we reported sub-zero super-resolution microscopy experiments which allowed us to study for the first time the interfacial dynamics of ice-bound ice-binding proteins at the single molecule level (see PNAS publication for more information). In this project you will build upon these pioneering experiments. You will image the interaction with ice of a novel class of engineered ice-interactive materials at the single molecule level to advance our understanding of how their structure and properties impact their ability to modulate ice crystal formation and growth. In this exciting role, you will work in a vibrant and international research group aiming to advance molecular insight into the working mechanism of novel ice-interactive materials for biomedical applications.

Job requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in (Bio)physical Chemistry, Molecular (Life) Sciences, Bionanotechnology, (Molecular) Biophysics, Molecular Biology, or related discipline
• Passionate about microscopy and soft matter science, physical chemistry, (bio)physics
• A solid background in advanced optical microscopy; e.g. quantitative fluorescence and/or super-resolution microscopy
• A solid background in quantitative imaging analysis and/or single-molecule (bio)physics
• A solid background in physical chemistry of materials, soft matter science, and/or (bio)physics
• Excellent programming (e.g. Python, Matlab) and data analysis skills for processing and interpreting experimental data (e.g. single molecule tracks)
• Experience with cryo-TEM, crystallization, microfluidics, AI-accelerated data analysis, and/or cryobiology is preferred
• Strong motivation to do excellent, original, fundamental research.
• Independent and goal-oriented researcher. Team player and able to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and international context.
• Fluent in spoken and written English. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Note that there is no Dutch language requirement.

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770 max. €3,539).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Information and application

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is one of Europe's leading research universities.
The Eindhoven area, in the southern part of the Netherlands, is one of Europe's top 'innovation ecosystems', with many high-tech companies and institutes. TU/e is intertwined with many of these companies and institutes, and research at TU/e is characterized by a combination of academic excellence, industrial relevance and societal interweaving.

Eindhoven University of Technology is a community of scientists, supporting staff, students and partners. People are the heart and soul of TU/e, so it is of great importance to safeguard the distinctive Eindhoven atmosphere, creating a personal, welcoming and vibrant environment that enables individuals and groups to grow professionally and personally.

The department Chemical Engineering and Chemistry is one of the nine departments of Eindhoven University of Technology. It was established in 1957, shortly after the university was founded. The department is located in the Helix and Matrix buildings on the TU/e campus. The candidate will closely collaborate with researchers within the departments of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Physics, and the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, all of which are located on the TU/e campus at walking distance.

More information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? For further information on this vacancy please contact prof. dr.ir. Ilja Voets, i.voets@tue.nl or +31 40 247 5303.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Leo van Houten, l.v.houten@tue.nl or +31 40 247 8269.

Please visit www.tue.nl/jobs to find out more about working at TU/e!

Application

Join our team and take the next step in your research career. If you have a passion for innovation and a drive to push the boundaries of science, we would love to hear from you. Please submit a complete application by using the 'apply now'-button on this page. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.

We look forward to receiving your application. Screening of applications will continue until the position has been filled.

Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on pioneering imaging approaches to study ice-interactive biomaterials!