Two-dimensional biomolecule confinement and transport for advanced biosensing & biosynthesis

Imec; Vlaams-Brabant; Remote; EUR 7,800 - 12,000; Full time

Job summary

imec in Leuven is offering a Master internship focused on two-dimensional biomolecule confinement and transport for advanced biosensing and biosynthesis. You will explore 2D-fluidics interfacing with sensor arrays in a highly interdisciplinary, international setting.

The role emphasizes analytical interpretation of experimental data, hands-on lab work, and collaboration with university and industry partners. Open to self-supporting students with KU Leuven supervision.

Qualifications

• Background in (Bio)chemistry, (Bio)physics, (Bio)nano-science/technology or related field.
• Proactive problem-solving approach.
• Hands-on lab experience.
• Analytical skills for interpreting complex data.
• Ability to work independently within an interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Understand adsorption and diffusion dynamics of biomolecules in physiological buffers on various materials.
• Refine fluorescence-based optical inspection techniques to detect biomolecules with 2D confinement.
• Develop and optimize patterning techniques for fluidic channels from diverse materials.

Skills

Proactive approach

Lab experiments

Analytical skills

Independent worker

English fluency

Time management

Education

Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Physics

Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Materials Engineering

Job description

/ Two-dimensional biomolecule confinement and transport for advanced biosensing & biosynthesis

Two-dimensional biomolecule confinement and transport for advanced biosensing & biosynthesis

Master internship - Leuven | More than two weeks ago

Explore 2D-fluidics at the interface of chips and biomolecules to revolutionize the future of biosensing and biosynthesis

Background on (Bio)chemistry, (Bio)physics, (Bio) n ano - science / technology, o r a related field.

P roactive approach to problem-solving .

H ands-on experience in laboratory-based experiments .

A nalytical skills to interpret complex experimental data with clarity and precision.

A bility to work independently while contributing to the i nterdisciplinary team.

Fluency in English for regular meetings , reporting , and documentation.

Strong organizational and time management skills .

Type of internship: Master internship

Required educational background: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Physics, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering

University promotor: Pol Van Dorpe (KU Leuven)

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-095. Mention this reference code in your application.

Only for self-supporting students.

This project aims to establish a novel platform for high-throughput and high-precision single- bio molecule analysis by integrating two-dimensional (2D) fluidic surfaces with advanced biosensor arrays. While single-molecule sensing technologies such as nanopores and nanoelectrodes have demonstrated remarkable sensitivity, their broader applicability is constrained by inefficient transport and spatial organization of biomolecules across large-scale sensor networks. By leveraging the 2D confinement of biomolecules on diverse materials , this research seeks to enable controlled confinement and rapid, directed transport of biomolecules along nanopatterned surfaces. The envisioned integration of 2D fluidics with CMOS-compatible sensing architectures will unlock scalable, parallelized single-molecule analysis, addressing critical needs in genomics, proteomics, and synthetic biology. You will contribute to this effort within a highly interdisciplinary and international research environment .

What you will do

• Understanding the adsorption and diffusion dynamics of various biomolecules in physiological buffers, on diverse types of materials such as 2D crystals, self-assembled monolayers, supported lipid bilayers, and hydrogels.

• R efining fluorescence-based optical inspection techniques to detect the presence and activity of individual biomolecules with 2D confinement at high sensitivity and reliability.

• Developing and optimiz ing patterning techniques to achieve fluidic channels made of diverse materials that allow for 2D-confined transport of biomolecules.

Who you are

• Background on (Bio)chemistry, (Bio)physics, (Bio) n ano - science / technology, o r a related field.

• P roactive approach to problem-solving .

• H ands-on experience in laboratory-based experiments .

• A nalytical skills to interpret complex experimental data with clarity and precision.

• A bility to work independently while contributing to the i nterdisciplinary team.

• Fluency in English for regular meetings , reporting , and documentation.

• Strong organizational and time management skills .

Type of internship: Master internship

Required educational background: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Physics, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering

University promotor: Pol Van Dorpe (KU Leuven)

Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Seungkyu Ha ( [e-mail] ) and Karolien Jans ( [e-mail] ) and Tim Stakenborg ( [e-mail] )

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-095. Mention this reference code in your application.

Only for self-supporting students.