PhD in Living Sensors: Decode Environmental History

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft); Netherlands; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to decode environmental information from living microorganisms and to develop computational decoders that recover environmental history from images. The role spans biodesign, machine learning, and interaction design within IDE and Sustainable Design Engineering.

You will cultivate organisms, model their visible responses, and design prototypes that integrate living sensors.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biodesign, Design Engineering, or related field.
• Experience building and deploying machine learning or computer vision models.
• Competencies in bio-digital systems, biodesign, applied machine learning, computer vision, computational biology, or physical prototyping.
• Experience with living organisms and hands-on experimental design.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate living organisms and characterize their visible responses to environmental conditions.
• Develop and validate computational decoders that recover environmental history from images of organisms.
• Design prototypes that integrate living sensors, such as compostable smart packaging for monitoring conditions.
• Collaborate across groups and contribute to publications and conferences.

Skills

ML/vision models

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Master's degree in CS / EE / Biodesign / Design Engineering

Job description

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to decode environmental information from living microorganisms and to develop computational decoders that recover environmental history from images. The role spans biodesign, machine learning, and interaction design within IDE and Sustainable Design Engineering.

You will cultivate organisms, model their visible responses, and design prototypes that integrate living sensors.