PhD Candidate in Cell-Matrix Interactions in Dynamic Hydrogels

Maastricht University; Maastricht; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12-month contract

Salary €3,204–€4,051/month

Holiday allowance 8%

Year-end bonus 8.3%

29 vacation days

Job summary

Maastricht University invites applications for a PhD Candidate in Cell-Matrix Interactions in Dynamic Hydrogels within the BioMatt group at MERLN/IBE. You will investigate how molecular organization, mechanics, dynamics, and ligand presentation in hydrogels direct cell behavior and how engineered cells actively modify their surrounding matrix.

The project aims to establish predictive relationships between hydrogel design and cell response, enabling adaptive living materials with two-way

Qualifications

• Excellent command of scientific English (CEFR C1) is required.
• Ability to document experiments clearly and analyze data.
• Strong communication across disciplinary boundaries.
• Motivation to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Design and create supramolecular hydrogels with control over biofunctionalization via peptide cues.
• Establish robust 2D and 3D cell-culture workflows in supramolecular and dynamically reinforced hydrogels.
• Determine how stiffness, stress relaxation, network architecture, and dynamic covalent reinforcement influence cell adhesion, morphology, mechanotransduction, phenotype, and matrix production.
• Investigate how molecular-scale presentation and accessibility of cell-adhesive ligands affect cellular responses.
• Study reciprocal cell–matrix interactions, including cell-mediated remodeling and matrix changes over time.
• Collaborate to evaluate engineered cells within hydrogel environments and contribute to experimental design and publications.

Job description

Welcome to Maastricht University!

Join us in developing cell-instructive and adaptive supramolecular biomaterials. In this PhD project, you will investigate how the molecular organization, mechanics, dynamics, and presentation of biological signals within hydrogels influence cell behavior. You will then help extend these principles toward living materials in which engineered cells actively modify their surrounding matrix.

PhD Candidate in Cell-Matrix Interactions in Dynamic Hydrogels

Discover how dynamic supramolecular matrices instruct cells and how cells can, in turn, reshape and improve the material around them.

Our goal:

To establish predictive relationships between supramolecular hydrogel design and cell response, and to use these insights to create adaptive materials with two-way communication between cells and their matrix.

Your colleagues:

You will join the BioMatt group of Dr. Matthew Baker (https://merlninstitute.com/discover-merln/departments-and-groups/research-groups/biomatt-polymeric-biomaterials). The BioMatt group is part of MERLN’s Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE), which develops biomaterials that actively interact with and guide biological systems. Within this environment, BioMatt combines molecular and polymer design with cell biology and tissue engineering to create dynamic materials for biomedical applications.

Working at MERLN means joining an international network of researchers from approximately 25 nationalities and a collaborative community spanning biomaterials, chemistry, mechanobiology, tissue engineering, biofabrication, microbiology, and cell biology. You will work in newly renovated laboratories with access to state-of-the-art facilities and close scientific support from colleagues across the SupraValent team.

What you do

This position leads the cell–matrix interaction and mechanobiology line within the ERC Consolidator project SupraValent. You will use both design and use established hydrogel platforms and processing workflows from the team to determine how material properties are sensed by cells and how cells feed back on their environment.

You will:

• Design and create supramolecular hydrogels with control over biofunctionalization via peptide cues
• Establish robust 2D and 3D cell-culture workflows in supramolecular and dynamically reinforced hydrogels.
• Determine how stiffness, stress relaxation, network architecture, and dynamic covalent reinforcement influence cell adhesion, morphology, mechanotransduction, phenotype, and matrix production.
• Investigate how the molecular-scale presentation and accessibility of cell-adhesive or other bioactive ligands affect cellular responses, including cases where bulk material properties are closely matched.
• Study reciprocal cell–matrix interactions, including cell‑mediated remodeling, deposition of extracellular matrix, and changes in hydrogel structure or mechanics over time.
• Work closely with team members to evaluate engineered cells within hydrogel environments and determine whether their activity can controllably build, reinforce, functionalize, or remodel the material.
• Contribute to experimental design, data analysis, publications, conference presentations, and supervision of students within the multidisciplinary BioMatt team.

The project will initially use well‑defined cells and previously created materials and will develop toward novel materials designs with engineered living‑material concepts in collaboration. Specific cell types and biological questions will be selected according to the strongest mechanistic opportunities and collaborations.

Are you ready to connect molecular material design with cell function? Then we would love to meet you.

Scientific background

Cells respond not only to the chemical composition and stiffness of their extracellular matrix, but also to its viscoelasticity, molecular organization, ligand presentation, and capacity to change over time. These variables are difficult to control independently in conventional hydrogels. SupraValent combines reversible benzene‑1,3,5‑tricarboxamide (BTA) self‑assembly with covalent and dynamic‑covalent modification to create materials whose mechanics, dynamics, and functionality can be adjusted after assembly. The project has established a growing molecular toolbox and hydrogel platforms with tunable stress relaxation, self‑healing, reinforcement, and processing behavior.

The next challenge is to determine how to make these material features more biologically meaningful. This PhD project will move beyond simple viability testing to resolve how cells sense local and bulk properties, how these cues influence mechanotransduction and matrix production, and how cellular activity changes the material over time. In the later phase, the candidate will work towards a central SupraValent concept: living cells that do more than survive within a hydrogel, instead actively contributing to its construction, reinforcement, or functional adaptation.

This fully funded 4‑year PhD position offers training at the interface of supramolecular and polymer chemistry, mechanobiology, cell biology, and biomaterials, while remaining embedded in a highly collaborative research environment.

Key references

1. Hafeez et al. Advanced Materials 2023, 35, 2207053. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202207053
2. Hafeez et al. Advanced Materials 2023, 35, 2301242. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202301242
3. Ruiter et al. Advanced Science 2022, 9, 2200543. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202200543
4. Rijns et al. JACS 2024, 146, 17539–17588. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c02980

What you bring

We are interested in the combination of experience, motivation, and perspective you would bring. The ideal candidate is a careful and curious experimental scientist who wants to understand cell–material interactions on a molecular scale.

• An MSc (or equivalent) in Biomaterials, Polymer Chemistry, Tissue Engineering, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or a closely related field. Candidates with an equivalent research qualification from an educational system without a separate Master’s degree are also encouraged to apply; eligibility will be assessed individually
• Substantial hands‑on experience with either mammalian cell culture or biomaterials design acquired through an MSc thesis, extended research project, or relevant research position, including (cell culture) aseptic technique, experimental planning, and reliable maintenance of cell‑based assays or (biomaterials) polymer functionalization, soft matter characterization, hydrogel formation.
• Experience studying cells in contact with biomaterials, hydrogels, extracellular‑matrix models, or other engineered microenvironments. Direct experience with 3D cell culture or cell encapsulation is highly desirable.
• Interest in mechanobiology and in relating cell behavior to material properties such as stiffness, stress relaxation, ligand presentation, or remodeling. Prior rheology or mechanical‑characterization experience is helpful but not required.
• The ability to document experiments clearly, analyze data critically, troubleshoot protocols, and communicate across disciplinary boundaries.
• Experience with extracellular‑matrix deposition, cell‑mediated remodeling, engineered cells, microbial culture, or engineered living materials is considered an advantage, but is not required.
• Excellent command of scientific English (minimum CEFR level C1), as English is the working language of the group.
• Availability to start the position on short notice is highly desirable; however, the start date remains flexible for highly qualified applicants.

What we offer

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment.

• A 12-month contract (1,0 FTE) with the prospect of a 3 year extension based on mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.204 and € 4.051 (based on full‑time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year‑end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full‑time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close‑knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)

FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well‑being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

About MERLN

Research Institute MERLN (Institute for Technology‑Inspired Regenerative Medicine) within FHML develops new technologies for the repair, regeneration, and in vitro modeling of tissues and organs. Within MERLN, the Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE) uses materials science and engineering to design biomaterials for applications ranging from medical devices and scaffolds for regenerative therapies to predictive in‑vitro models. By controlling material chemistry, structure, mechanics, and biological functionality, IBE researchers create systems that actively interact with and guide biological processes. The department brings together expertise in polymeric, inorganic, supramolecular, and bioactive materials at the interface of chemistry, engineering, and regenerative medicine.

The vacancy is open to internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.