Electrically Controlled Fluidic Networks for Programmable DNA Assembly and Synthetic Biology

Imec; Vlaams-Brabant; Sur place; EUR 7 800 - 10 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

imec offers a Master internship on Electrically Controlled Fluidic Networks for Programmable DNA Assembly and Synthetic Biology. The project aims to move, purify, concentrate, and assemble DNA on chip without mechanical fluid control.

Internship tasks include designing microfluidic structures, achieving DNA upconcentration, and developing modules that link reaction chambers to purification and transfer stages. Reference: 2026-INT-239.

Qualifications

• Education: Biomedical engineering, Bioscience Engineering, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Electromechanical engineering, Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Other

Responsabilités

• Design and fabricate electrically actuated microfluidic structures for controllable transport of DNA.
• Implement upconcentration of DNA in predefined regions of the device.
• Develop and characterize network modules that couple reaction chambers with downstream purification and transfer stages.
• Experimentally study transport and separation of DNA fragments within electrically controlled channel networks.

Formation

Master internship

Description du poste

Electrically Controlled Fluidic Networks for Programmable DNA Assembly and Synthetic Biology

Programmable electrokinetic networks to move, concentrate, purify, and assemble DNA on chip without mechanical fluid control.

This internship will generate preliminary experimental and theoretical results toward the realisation of electrically controlled fluidic networks capable of orchestrating complex biochemical workflows without mechanical pumps or valves. The central scientific question is whether electrically actuated microfluidic architectures can autonomously transport, purify, concentrate, and ligate DNA fragments, enabling synthetic biology workflows on chip. The project contributes to imec's long-term vision of creating configurable fluidic circuits for automated biomolecular processing and next-generation lab‑on‑chip systems.

Research tasks

• Design and fabricate electrically actuated microfluidic structures for controllable transport of DNA.
• Implement the upconcentration of DNA in predefined regions of the device.
• Develop and characterize network modules that couple reaction chambers with downstream purification and transfer stages.
• Experimentally study the transport and separation of DNA fragments of different sizes within electrically controlled channel networks.

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 6 month

Required educational background: Biomedical engineering, Bioscience Engineering, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Electromechanical engineering, Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Other

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-239

Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.

imec's cleanroom