Postdoc position on microfluidic mass production of therapeutic microgels

Are you passionate about combining microfluidic technology, material science, device engineering, and cell therapeutic strategies towards real-world applications ? We offer an impactful postdoc position in the Leijten Laboratory within the Department of BioEngineering Technologies as part of a recently funded National consortium (NWO-Perspectief: RecovAir). In this consortium, we develop novel delivery methods for lung therapeutics by microfluidic devices, nanomaterials, pharmacological compounds, advanced in vitro models, and therapeutic cells. This approach represents a beyond-state-of-the-art solution to treat COPD.

Strategic Policy Advisor for Research & Innovation

Je gaat aan de slag in het beleidsteam van de afdeling Strategie & Beleid, met een focus op het gebied van Onderzoek & Innovatie.

Je bent een professional met hart voor het onderzoek en met kennis op het gebied van innovatie-, wetenschaps- en onderzoeksbeleid (en de praktische organisatie ervan). Je voelt je verantwoordelijk om de beste randvoorwaarden voor onze onderzoekers te creëren, om het resultaat van ons werk daadwerkelijk te laten landen, met oog voor de ander, en een lerende houding. Tegelijk geven we jou alle kansen om jezelf te ontwikkelen. Binnen Strategie & Beleid werken we flexibel en resultaatgericht met een integrale structuur – je werkt dus ook veel samen met collega’s van de andere S&B teams.

De ‘UT community’ gedachte is jou niet vreemd: je schakelt proactief met andere diensten, faculteiten en instituten, en werkt vanuit het belang voor de hele organisatie en onze partners – helemaal in lijn met de 4e generatie universiteit ambitie. Je weet niet alleen intern mensen te verbinden, je werkt ook goed samen met onze externe partners op beleidsgebied (zoals 4TU en UNL).

Je geeft advies aan onze organisatie, waaronder faculteiten, instituten en het College van Bestuur, over complexe en actuele organisatievraagstukken (zoals onderzoeksinfrastructuur en innovatiebeleid). Met je enthousiasme om externe ontwikkelingen om te zetten in interne acties versterk je de positie van de UT en lever je een waardevolle bijdrage aan de wetenschap.

PhD Position in Nanomedicine Formulation Engineering for Cancer Treatment

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 looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong interest in interdisciplinary research to join a collaborative project between the Precision Therapeutics group (Dr. Alina Rwei) in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Complex Fluid Processing group (Prof. Johan Padding) in the Department of Process & Energy at Delft University of Technology. The position will be formally embedded within the Precision Therapeutics group.

In this PhD project, you will develop innovative formulation strategies for lipid-based drug delivery nanoparticles, with a particular focus on the design and optimization of externally triggerable lipid nanomedicines. Combining molecular modeling with experimental validation, you will investigate how formulation parameters influence nanoparticle stability, ultrasound triggerability, and biological performance, contributing to the development of precision therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.

The project is embedded in a strong academic–industrial network and offers close collaboration with leading pharmaceutical partners, including Merck KGaA and Johnson & Johnson. The project also involves close interaction with other research teams within the SPARC consortium, working on molecular mechanisms of nanoparticle purification and storage, as well as engineering solutions for downstream processing.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of nanomedicine, molecular modeling, and process engineering, while contributing to the future of personalized cancer therapy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lipid-based nanoparticle formulation design & stability optimization
• • Investigate the impact of lipid composition, cargo type and size, and solvent conditions on nanoparticle performance.
  • Develop formulation strategies that balance:
    
    • Mechanical robustness (required for purification and storage)
    • Ultrasound responsiveness for triggered drug release
• Computational simulations with Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics (CGMD):
  
  • Model formulation- and environment-dependent nanoparticle properties (e.g., bending stiffness, surface tension)
  • Investigate ultrasound triggered release mechanisms
• Empirical validation of nanoparticle properties & ultrasound-triggerability in a biologically relevant environment
  
  • Empirically validate the simulated nanoparticle properties
  • Design and evaluate ultrasound triggerability of lipid-based nanoparticles that can activate the tumor microenvironment
  • Perform in vitro ultrasound-triggered release studies under controlled conditions and validate performance in vitro e.g. tumor-on-chip platforms and in vivo

Job requirements

• MSc or equivalent in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Chemistry, Biomedical 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 lipid-based nanoparticle formulations and/or coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations 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 (Experimental) Air-Knife Turbulent Jet Impingement on a Liquid Zinc Surface

Job description

A 4-year PhD position is available in the research group of Prof. Dr. Sasa Kenjeres at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), The Netherlands.

A common method to protect steel against corrosion is the application of a protective zinc layer. This process is called galvanizing. Tata Steel Netherlands currently produces over half a million tons of galvanized steel per year, all of which is produced via the hot-dip galvanizing process. In hot-dip galvanizing, air knives blow a high-velocity gas jet onto a steel strip to control the thickness of the zinc layer. The interaction between the turbulent air jet and the liquid zinc is a potential cause of coating irregularities (waviness) and rejection of the final product. In this project, we will apply combined experimental, theoretical, and computer simulation studies to bring detailed insight into the dynamics of the interactions between the air-jet and the solidifying liquid zinc. A better understanding of these interactions will open new ways to eliminate observed imperfections.

You will focus on the experimental part of the project, which involves the construction and build-up of experimental setups, as well as performing state-of-the-art measurements (PIV-based) of the multi-phase flows. This project is part of the Holland High Tech program, and you will closely collaborate with our industrial partners (M2i, Tata Steel).   

Job requirements
You are a recent graduate looking to use your experimental skills to provide understanding of complex multi-phase phenomena and optimize industrial processes. With your pioneering mindset and hands-on experimental experience, you will be able to tackle this challenging problem. 

 You also have:

• An MSc in a relevant subject, such as Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Proven experience with experimental techniques (previous experience with PIV is a must)
• A keen interest in interdisciplinary, curiosity-driven, and applied research
• Fluency in English and enjoyment of working in an international research environment
• A team-working mentality, as well as the capability to work efficiently individually
• Excellent communication 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.

Assistant or Associate Professor in Virology

The research of the Virology group focuses mainly on the molecular, cellular and structural mechanisms underlying infection and transmission of animal and human RNA viruses, including corona-, influenza-, paramyxo- and picornaviruses in the context of the faculty’s One Health research. In addition to fundamental research, the group performs translational research to develop innovative diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutic antibodies and antiviral strategies.

As a principal investigator you will:

• establish and lead an independent research line that complements and strengthens the ongoing research activities within the Virology group;
• acquire research funding and build and maintain contacts with academic and industrial partners;
• supervise PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and technical staff;

We are particularly interested in candidates whose research contributes to areas such as RNA viruses, virus-host interactions, viral pathogenesis, zoonotic infections, antiviral strategies, structural virology or translational virology.

You will also contribute to Virology teaching within the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of Veterinary Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences. Teaching tasks include lectures, practical courses, supervision of BSc and MSc students, as well as course development. Your teaching duties will average 0.2FTE, with peak periods when the courses are running. While some teaching is conducted in Dutch, candidates who are not yet proficient in Dutch are expected to be willing to learn the language (support for this can be made available if needed).

The Virology section is part of the Division of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, together with the sections of Immunology, Infection Biology and Clinical Infectiology. The division is part of the Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.