Postdoc in Cross-disciplinary Research in our 'Bio-microfluidics' Team

Job description

1. Are you inspired by the potential to use microfluidics for cancer research?
2. Are you passionate to develop ogran-on-a-chip for drug screening applications?
3. Would you thrive in a high-end, interdisciplinary research environment dedicated to drug bioavilailibty?

This project develops a predictive lymphatic on a chip platform to study and improve the subcutaneous bioavailability of theraputics. The advanced 3D microfluidic system mimics human lymphatic transport and, for the first time, integrates a vascularized barrier to enhance physiological relevance. It enables mechanistic analysis of therapeutic absorption, distribution, and blood–lymphatic interactions, including applications for small molecules, viral vectors and CAR T therapies. The model will be validated using diverse biomolecules and optimized for evaluation of formulation, dosage, and microenvironmental factors. Ultimately, the platform aims to accelerate therapeutic development while reducing reliance on animal testing and improving translational predictability

The project is part of our TKI-PPS research project via close collaboration with phrama, which aims to develop a novel bioavailability-on-a-chip platform that addresses a critical unmet need in biologics development.

Job requirements
We are looking for candidates that meet the following criteria:

• Ph.D. degree in a relevant field such as chemical engineering, physics, electrical engineering, biophysics, bioengineering, materials science or similar;
• Prior experience with microfluidics, fluorescence imaging, confocal imaging, micro-scal flow or mammalian cell culture is highly desirable;
• Creative, open-minded and proactive;
• Excellent experimental and analytical skills;
• Good team player;
• Good English communication and writing skills.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Postdoc in Cross-disciplinary Research in our 'Bio-microfluidics' Team

Job description

1. Are you inspired by the potential to use microfluidics for cancer research?
2. Are you passionate to develop ogran-on-a-chip for drug screening applications?
3. Would you thrive in a high-end, interdisciplinary research environment dedicated to drug bioavilailibty?

This project develops a predictive lymphatic on a chip platform to study and improve the subcutaneous bioavailability of theraputics. The advanced 3D microfluidic system mimics human lymphatic transport and, for the first time, integrates a vascularized barrier to enhance physiological relevance. It enables mechanistic analysis of therapeutic absorption, distribution, and blood–lymphatic interactions, including applications for small molecules, viral vectors and CAR T therapies. The model will be validated using diverse biomolecules and optimized for evaluation of formulation, dosage, and microenvironmental factors. Ultimately, the platform aims to accelerate therapeutic development while reducing reliance on animal testing and improving translational predictability

The project is part of our TKI-PPS research project via close collaboration with phrama, which aims to develop a novel bioavailability-on-a-chip platform that addresses a critical unmet need in biologics development.

Job requirements
We are looking for candidates that meet the following criteria:

• Ph.D. degree in a relevant field such as chemical engineering, physics, electrical engineering, biophysics, bioengineering, materials science or similar;
• Prior experience with microfluidics, fluorescence imaging, confocal imaging, micro-scal flow or mammalian cell culture is highly desirable;
• Creative, open-minded and proactive;
• Excellent experimental and analytical skills;
• Good team player;
• Good English communication and writing skills.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

PhD Position Scalable Lipid Nanoparticle Purification Technologies

Job description

SPARC (Scalable Personalized Nanotherapeutics for Cancer Treatment) is an ambitious research program dedicated to making advanced cancer therapies more effective and accessible, particularly for patients with hard-to-treat “cold tumors.” By developing personalized nanomedicines, SPARC aims to improve patient survival through innovations such as tumor-on-a-chip platforms that reduce reliance on animal testing, and novel manufacturing technologies that enhance therapeutic efficacy and product stability.

As part of this program, we are seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. student with an interest in cross-disciplinary research to join a shared position between the Precision Therapeutics group (Dr. Alina Rwei) in the Chemical Engineering department and the Complex Fluid Processing group (Prof. Johan Padding) in the Process & Energy department of TU Delft. The position will formally be at Precision Therapeutics.

The project is embedded in a strong academic–industrial network and offers close collaboration with leading pharmaceutical partners, including Merck KGaA and Johnson & Johnson.

This project focuses on purification of the output stream of lipid-based drug delivery nanoparticles manufacturing systems. These streams typically contain solvent, lipids and unencapsulated drug components, which need to be removed by dilution and subsequent ultra- or diafiltration. Current purification systems, typically based on (alternating) tangential flow filtration, suffer from loss of expensive lipid nanoparticles and membrane fouling, necessitating expensive regular replacement of the membranes.

Your task will be to engineer innovative purification systems, e.g. by changing membrane materials and designing novel filtration flow geometries, that minimize loss of lipid nanoparticles and maximise throughput. In the design you will explore modularization options for relatively quick and low-cost replacement of filtration system components. The project also involves close interaction with other research teams within the SPARC consortium, e.g., molecular mechanisms for membrane fouling are investigated.

Key Responsibilities

• Computational modelling with CFD simulations:
  
  • Investigate the flow, diffusion and filtration in tangential flow filtration systems
  • Implement correlations to model build-up of fouling and its effects on filtration capacity
  • Develop novel flow geometries that balance:
    
    • Throughput (maximising production rates)
    • Mechanical stress on lipid nanoparticles (minimising loss of LNPs)
• Experimental verification
• • Experimentally verify the use of alternative membranes for LNP purification.
  • Experimentally verify modularisation options for the purification train, including use of quick connectors. 

Job requirements

• MSc or equivalent in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nanotechnology or related field
• Analytical mindset with ability to work across computational and experimental domains
• Have excellent communication skills in English, and want to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience in computational fluid dynamics simulations or pharmaceutical downstream processes is a plus

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

PhD Position Future Energy Infrastructure Planning Under Uncertainty in collaboration with Stedin

Job description

Grid operators, such as Stedin, must urgently plan near-term investments in energy infrastructure to ensure a carbon-neutral, robust, adequate, cost-effective, and socially acceptable system in the long term, with impacts, opportunities, and barriers extending beyond 2050. This planning task is extremely challenging due to deep uncertainty regarding technological and societal developments across all sectors of the economy that influence the energy system's demand, as well as parallel planning decisions taken by other system actors.

A relevant case in point of the complex and uncertain interdependency between energy planning and socio-technical developments is the greenhouse horticulture sector, which in the Netherlands significantly contributes to both the economy and the energy system. Greenhouses currently meet their local electricity, heating, and CO2 needs via gas-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which can operate flexibly and thereby also provide grid balancing. However, whether the sector's pivotal role as a flexible energy system asset will continue is highly uncertain. Socio-economic developments may transform the overall size of the sector or the products they prioritise (e.g., vegetables or ornamental plants, whose energy requirements differ significantly). At the same time, technological developments and carbon-neutrality goals may radically transform the sector's local energy infrastructure and business model, for example, transitioning from CHPs to renewable sources that cannot provide grid flexibility but rather require it. Moreover, grid operators must weigh possible alternative flexibility means (storage, power-to-heat, power-to-gas, gas-to-power) against publicly financed grid reinforcements and privately owned commercial opportunities.

Current energy planning methods fail to capture this complexity, leading to poorly justified choices on alternative infrastructures and interdependencies and to over- or underinvestment. In this PhD, we will develop methods and tools to go beyond such barriers and enable the robust, adequate, cost-effective, and socially viable planning decisions that grid operators need. We will do so in various stages. First, by investigating how to capture various plausible socio-economic developments for a given energy sector, such as greenhouse horticulture, and their implications on energy demand. Second, by quantifying how these developments may transform the sector's local energy infrastructure, which may comprise various energy carriers such as heat, hydrogen and green methane. This requires accurately capturing the sector’s heat, electricity, and CO2 needs, then evaluating the interactions between the design options of horticulture companies and their impact on local infrastructure and energy system planning. Third, by developing an innovative methodology that leverages the information produced on socio-economic and technical developments to generate insights into the trade-offs between alternative planning strategies for grid operators, based on relevant KPIs. We aim, in particular, for insights that enable us to prioritise near-term investments and adapt to various possible future investment trajectories as uncertain information unfolds over time.

To achieve such goals, you will build on cutting-edge methods and tools in our team, such as open-source energy system modelling frameworks and Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA) under uncertainty, and combine them with techniques from AI and other fields to ease computation and ensure robust, practically-actionable insights. TU Delft and Stedin jointly fund this PhD position. You will work with researchers at TU Delft and with system strategists at Stedin, spending one day per week at Stedin’s Rotterdam premises.

At TU Delft, you will work closely with Francesco Lombardi in the Energy & Industry section, where you will interact with researchers working on similar topics. You'll also join a lively community of renowned interdisciplinary energy researchers in the Department of Engineering Systems and Services. We host researchers from diverse countries and disciplines, and we welcome candidates who contribute to and enjoy this diversity.

At Stedin, you will work closely with experienced system strategists who focus on the long-term integral development of the energy system. We comprise a community of experienced and innovative colleagues whose primary drivers are societal value creation and sustainable development goals. You will encounter the group that created the systemic energy visions and strategies that are now leading governmental (among others) policies.  

Job requirements
You must be able to demonstrate:

• Master’s degree in engineering (e.g., CoSEM, SET, Electrical Engineering if you attended TU Delft), physics or other related discipline (must have been awarded by the agreed-upon starting date of the PhD).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Very good written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Very good written and spoken communication skills in Dutch.

Bonus points if you have:

• Programming experience Python or a similar language.
• Knowledge of open-source energy system modelling frameworks, such as PyPSA, Calliope, Tulipa or similar.
• Knowledge on the (Dutch) Power System (dynamic and quasi static simulations)
• Taken courses in Optimisation, Energy System Modelling or similar.
• Prior research experience, especially in energy system modelling or other energy-related research.  

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Technology, Policy & Management
The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

PhD Position Developing Magnetic Nanomaterials in the Project "Welding Made Easy"

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a background in physical chemistry, materials science, or nanomagnetism to join the project "Welding Made Easy," funded through the NWO-KIC programme.

Welding Made Easy addresses one of the key bottlenecks in lightweight composite manufacturing: how to join fibre-reinforced polymer structures reliably, without the weight penalty of bolts and rivets or the strict process control demanded by adhesive bonding. The project shifts control of the welding process from complex machinery to the material itself, by embedding magnetic nanoparticles with a tailored Curie (or compensation) temperature into a thermoplastic interlayer. When exposed to a high-frequency magnetic field, these particles heat the interface until the target processing temperature is reached — at which point their magnetic losses collapse, acting as a built-in thermal switch that prevents overheating. The same particles double as sensors, enabling real-time monitoring of the weld through their AC field absorption. This self-regulating approach removes the need for dedicated welding infrastructure, opening the door to decentralised manufacturing and ad-hoc repair of composite structures for aerospace, mobility, and defence applications.

As a PhD candidate, you will work in the NCFun group of Prof. Arjan Houtepen (TU Delft, Applied Sciences), in close collaboration prof. Clemens Dransfeld (TU Delft, Aerospace Engineering) with Dr. Reinoud Lavrijsen (TU/e), Prof. Sofia Kantorovich/Dr Andrei Kuznetsov (TU Vienna), and industrial partner SCIL. You will be embedded in a larger interdisciplinary consortium spanning polymer and composite science, nanoscience, physics, and process engineering, including partners such as Airbus, GKN, and DLR.

Your research will focus on:

• Colloidal chemical synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles (e.g. Mn-Fe ferrite alloys) with tunable switch temperatures
• Post-synthetic and in-situ surface functionalisation to achieve stable dispersion in polymer matrices
• Structural and compositional characterisation (XRD, XPS, TEM, NMR)
• Magnetic characterisation and switch-temperature determination (magneto-thermogravimetric analysis, SQUID, VSM)
• Linking nanoparticle composition and structure to magnetic heating performance (SAR) for use in polymer welding

Your profile:

You have a completed Master's degree in physical chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a closely related field. You combine a strong interest in the synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials with an affinity for magnetism and solid-state physics.

The ideal candidate has experience with one or more of the following:

• Colloidal synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles (e.g. metal oxides, ferrites)
• Nanoparticle surface chemistry and functionalisation
• Structural characterisation techniques (XRD, TEM, XPS)
• Magnetic characterisation (VSM, SQUID) or an interest in learning these methods

You enjoy working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and are motivated to bridge fundamental nanomaterials science with a technology of direct industrial relevance.

What we offer:

• A full-time PhD position at TU Delft in a leading European research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art synthesis and characterisation facilities at TU Delft and TU/e
• Close collaboration with academic and industrial partners across the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, and beyond
• The opportunity to contribute to a programmable materials technology with direct applications in aerospace and defence    

Job requirements
For this position we are looking for a physical chemist, materials physicist, or chemical engineer with a completed master's degree. You should combine a keen interest in the synthesis and properties of nanomaterials with an understanding of magnetism and solid-state physics.

The ideal candidate has prior experience with colloidal materials, synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles, and structural or magnetic characterisation techniques.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.