GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level

Imec India Private Limited; Vlaams-Brabant; Sur place; EUR 12 000 - 17 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

IMEC in Leuven offers a Master internship focused on GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level. You will explore picosecond ultrasonics to probe cellular mechanics and develop optical interferometric detection strategies in a fluidic environment.

The project aims to review cellular biophysics, model acoustic nano-pulses, test Michelson or Fabry-Pérot setups, and assess capabilities for detecting cells or particles in microfluidic devices.

Qualifications

• Master internship background in Bioscience Engineering or Biomedical engineering.
• Strong interest in biophysics and nanophonics.
• Experience with optical interferometry is a plus.

Responsabilités

• In-depth review of how cellular mechanical properties arise from biophysical and biochemical pathways.
• Theoretical modeling of acoustic nano-pulses’ propagation, reflection, scattering in layered systems.
• Experimental study of optical interferometric techniques (e.g., Michelson or Fabry-Pérot configurations) for detecting ultrafast acoustic waves.
• Assessing the potential of the technique for cell/particle detection and discrimination in microfluidic applications.

Formation

Bioscience Engineering, Biomedical engineering

Description du poste

/ GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level

GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level

Master internship - Leuven | More than two weeks ago

single-cell mechanics, biosensing, GHz acoustic sensing

GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level

BACKGROUND

Mechanical and acoustic phenotyping has become an emerging field of research in biophysics and biomedical diagnostics, as cell stiffness and intracellular viscoelasticity are established biomarkers for cancer, immune activation, aging, and pathogen infection. There is rapidly growing interest in exploiting GHz acoustics for non-contact, non-invasive probing of single cells, detecting changes in biomolecular environments, and even accessing nanoscale properties of viruses.

Picosecond ultrasonics enables contactless, broad-bandwidth, sensing of elastic, mechanical, and acoustic properties of materials at the micro-nanoscale. The technology has been widely used for thin film characterization and now is being extensively explored for non-contact and non-invasive probing of single cells4 and even viruses. At KULeuven and IMEC, expertise exists in picosecond ultrasonics, integrated photonics, micro- and nanofabrication, and lab-on-chip platforms. Combining these capabilities may open new pathways for detecting weak GHz acoustic signatures in fluidic media. This is an essential step toward characterizing soft biological matter and understanding biochemical pathways. However, the use of GHz ultrasonics in liquid environments remains technically challenging due to strong acoustic attenuation and complex wave interaction.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this thesis project is to investigate the feasibility of using optical interferometry to enhance the detection of GHz acoustic waves, exploring its applications towards sensing and identification of biological cells or small particles within a fluidic environment. Specific goals include:

• In-depth review of the current understanding of how cellular mechanical properties arise from biophysical and biochemical pathways, e.g., cytoskeletal organization, membrane tension regulation, intracellular viscoelasticity, osmotic and ionic homeostasis, mechanotransduction pathways.
• Theoretical modeling acoustic nano-pulses’ propagation, reflection, scattering in layered systems.
• Experimental studying optical interferometric techniques (e.g., Michelson or Fabry-Pérot configurations) for detecting ultrafast acoustic waves.
• Assessing the potential of the technique for cell/particle detection and discrimination in microfluidic applications.

REFERENCES

1. Urbanska, M. & Guck, J. Single-Cell Mechanics: Structural Determinants and Functional Relevance. Annual Review of Biophysics 53, 367-395 (2024).

2. The force awakens in mechanomedicine. Nat Rev Bioeng 4, 205-205 (2026).

3. Matsuda, O., Larciprete, M. C., Li Voti, R. & Wright, O. B. Fundamentals of picosecond laser ultrasonics. Ultrasonics 56, 3-20 (2015).

4. Audoin, B. Principles and advances in ultrafast photoacoustics; applications to imaging cell mechanics and to probing cell nanostructure. Photoacoustics 31, 100496 (2023).

5. Zhang, Y. et al. Nanoscopic acoustic vibrational dynamics of a single virus captured by ultrafast spectroscopy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122, e2420428122 (2025).

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 6-10 months

Required educational background: Bioscience Engineering, Biomedical engineering

University promotor: Pol Van Dorpe (KU Leuven)

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-153.

Only for self-supporting students.

/ GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level

GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level

Master internship - Leuven | More than two weeks ago

single-cell mechanics, biosensing, GHz acoustic sensing

GHz acoustics for biosensing at single-cell level

BACKGROUND

Mechanical and acoustic phenotyping has become an emerging field of research in biophysics and biomedical diagnostics, as cell stiffness and intracellular viscoelasticity are established biomarkers for cancer, immune activation, aging, and pathogen infection. There is rapidly growing interest in exploiting GHz acoustics for non-contact, non-invasive probing of single cells, detecting changes in biomolecular environments, and even accessing nanoscale properties of viruses.

Picosecond ultrasonics enables contactless, broad-bandwidth, sensing of elastic, mechanical, and acoustic properties of materials at the micro-nanoscale. The technology has been widely used for thin film characterization and now is being extensively explored for non-contact and non-invasive probing of single cells4 and even viruses. At KULeuven and IMEC, expertise exists in picosecond ultrasonics, integrated photonics, micro- and nanofabrication, and lab-on-chip platforms. Combining these capabilities may open new pathways for detecting weak GHz acoustic signatures in fluidic media. This is an essential step toward characterizing soft biological matter and understanding biochemical pathways. However, the use of GHz ultrasonics in liquid environments remains technically challenging due to strong acoustic attenuation and complex wave interaction.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this thesis project is to investigate the feasibility of using optical interferometry to enhance the detection of GHz acoustic waves, exploring its applications towards sensing and identification of biological cells or small particles within a fluidic environment. Specific goals include:

• In-depth review of the current understanding of how cellular mechanical properties arise from biophysical and biochemical pathways, e.g., cytoskeletal organization, membrane tension regulation, intracellular viscoelasticity, osmotic and ionic homeostasis, mechanotransduction pathways.
• Theoretical modeling acoustic nano-pulses’ propagation, reflection, scattering in layered systems.
• Experimental studying optical interferometric techniques (e.g., Michelson or Fabry-Pérot configurations) for detecting ultrafast acoustic waves.
• Assessing the potential of the technique for cell/particle detection and discrimination in microfluidic applications.

REFERENCES

1. Urbanska, M. & Guck, J. Single-Cell Mechanics: Structural Determinants and Functional Relevance. Annual Review of Biophysics 53, 367-395 (2024).

2. The force awakens in mechanomedicine. Nat Rev Bioeng 4, 205-205 (2026).

3. Matsuda, O., Larciprete, M. C., Li Voti, R. & Wright, O. B. Fundamentals of picosecond laser ultrasonics. Ultrasonics 56, 3-20 (2015).

4. Audoin, B. Principles and advances in ultrafast photoacoustics; applications to imaging cell mechanics and to probing cell nanostructure. Photoacoustics 31, 100496 (2023).

5. Zhang, Y. et al. Nanoscopic acoustic vibrational dynamics of a single virus captured by ultrafast spectroscopy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122, e2420428122 (2025).

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 6-10 months

Required educational background: Bioscience Engineering, Biomedical engineering

University promotor: Pol Van Dorpe (KU Leuven)

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-153.

Only for self-supporting students.

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