PHD Position

A 4-year PhD position in the field of lab-on-a-chip technologies and mechanobiology at the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The project aims to develop miniaturized on-chip platforms that deliver precise, real-time mechanical stimulation to cells, enabling controlled studies of cellular responses to mechanical cues.

• M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Bioengineering, or related disciplines.
• Hands-on experience with microfabrication and microfluidics.
• Strong background in fluid mechanics and transport phenomena.
• Experience with fluorescence imaging or live-cell imaging.
• Enthusiasm, self-motivation, creativity, and team spirit.
• Excellent communication skills in English (verbal and written).
• Preferred: hands-on experience with hydrogel synthesis.
• Preferred: programming skills (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for data analysis.
• Preferred: ability to design and implement microcontroller-based control systems (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.).
• Preferred: familiarity with cell culture and biological assays.

• Develop a miniaturized on-chip platform capable of delivering precise, real-time mechanical stimulation to cells.
• Integrate and optimize on-chip mechanical stimulation in controlled microenvironments.
• Collaborate with cell biologists to apply the platforms to studies of cellular biomechanics.
• Use the platforms to investigate how the surrounding microenvironment influences cellular biomechanics and to uncover mechanisms of mechanosensing.

In accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities, the gross monthly salary for a full-time PhD position ranges from €3.059 to €3.881.

• 232 vacation hours per year based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE).
• Option to work more or fewer hours in exchange for correspondingly more or fewer free hours (for example, a 40-hour week saves 96 extra free hours; a 36-hour week reduces free hours by 96).
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development and enrolment in a PhD training programme through the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.
• The successful candidate is initially offered a one-year temporary contract with the option to renew for three additional years, contingent on satisfactory progress in the first year.

The University of Groningen fosters interdisciplinary research, teaching, and collaboration with industry, healthcare, and societal organizations. The Faculty of Science and Engineering covers disciplines from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy, addressing challenges such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. You will join the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), a multidisciplinary institute positioned within the faculty and physically located within the University Medical Centre Groningen. GRIP bridges clinical and biomedical sciences with chemistry, mathematics, engineering, and physics, enabling cutting-edge pharmaceutical research.