PhD: Bacteria-mediated Fabrication of Improved Biomaterials

Department/faculty: Applied Sciences
Level: Master degree
Working hours: 38 hours per week
Contract: 4 years
Salary: €2062 to €2638

Applied Sciences

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,800 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Applied Physics.

A new Department of Bionanoscience has been established at TU Delft, dedicated to research at the interface between nanoscience, synthetic biology, and cell biology. It studies single cells in all their complexity down to the molecular level, from both fundamental scientific and application points of view. The new department operates as part of the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at the Faculty of Applied Sciences and aims at a leading international position.

Job description

Biomaterials in the natural world provide an abundant source of inspiration for the design and synthesis of novel, high-performance materials. Nacre, a biomineralised material lining seashells, has recently attracted high levels of interest due to its impressive material properties. This project will engineer bacteria to fabricate nacre-like material with controlled mechanical properties far superior to concrete, with the flexibility of nanopatterning and on-site production on irregular surfaces. Synthetic biology approaches will be utilised to create and optimise bacterial activity for enhanced material performance, and materials science tools will be applied to characterise the structural and mechanical properties of the novel material.

Visit our websites for more information:
https://sites.google.com/site/annemeyerlab/
https://sites.google.com/site/aubintamgroup/

Requirements

Applicants should have a Master's degree in biology, chemistry, physics, material sciences, or a related field, and enthusiasm for multidisciplinary approaches to understanding and engineering biological phenomena. The position will be for a fixed term of four years and is expected to result in a PhD. Good communication skills in English are required.

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home (with a contract of two years or longer), and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Delft University of Technology strives to increase the number of women in higher academic positions; women are therefore especially encouraged to apply.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.phd.tudelft.nl for more information.

Information and application

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Anne S. Meyer, phone: +31 (0)15-2789249, e-mail: a.s.meyer@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV, a letter of application and references by 31 October 2013 to Dr. Meyer, a.s.meyer@tudelft.nl.
When applying for this position, please refer to vacancy number TNWBN13-014.