PhD TactoChem – Signal Amplification and Processing

University of Groningen; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation hours (232 per year)

End-of-year bonus (8.3%)

Holiday allowance

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

University of Groningen invites applications for a First Stage Researcher (R1) to join a rapidly expanding team focused on chemically driven robotics. The project aims to amplify mechanochemical signals and transport them through soft robotic hands, enabling a sense of touch in robots.

You will work on polymer chemistry, rapid prototyping, and advanced analytical techniques, supervised in a multidisciplinary environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. degree in chemistry or equivalent.
• Demonstrable research experience in systems chemistry, microfluidics, and/or organic synthesis.
• Motivation to design and synthesise novel reaction networks and study their behaviour in innervated soft robots.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Willingness to acquire additional skills from basic programming to 3D modelling.
• Well-developed communication and collaboration skills and the ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop soft robotic components with microfluidic channels that transport chemical signals.
• Establish chemical reaction networks to amplify signals and quantify their behaviour with kinetic modelling.
• Work with soft materials and 3D design to understand signal transport and actuation.
• Develop a systems chemistry approach to using mechanophores for robotics.
• Excel in a top chemistry group with state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Skills

Systems chemistry

Microfluidics

Organic synthesis

Programming

3D modelling

Communication

Education

M.Sc. in chemistry

Tools

3D modelling software

Programming

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Groningen Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Engineering » Chemical engineering Chemistry » Analytical chemistry Chemistry » Inorganic chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 11 Oct 2026 - 22:00 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 38.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A sense of touch allows us to handle objects with fine motor skills and navigate the complexities of everyday life. Robots struggle with even simple tasks, because their sensing capabilities remain limited. It is incredibly hard to achieve the level of sophistication and high-density integration of sensing, signal processing, and movement that comes so naturally to us. This project, funded by an European Starting Grant, aims to develop a new class of chemical touch sensors that can be incorporated into robotic prototypes.

What are you going to do?

Join a rapidly expanding team of PhD students and Postdocs, shape a rapidly emerging field with your insights, and become a forerunner in chemically-driven robotics. The core objective of this PhD project is to amplify mechanochemical signals through chemical reactions and transport them across soft robotic hands to enable a sense of touch in robots. Leverage your systems chemistry and/or microfluidics background and learn more about polymer chemistry, rapid prototyping, and cutting edge analytical techniques.

Your main tasks will include to:

• Develop soft robotic components with microfluidic channels that can transport chemical signals.
• Establish chemical reaction networks that allow for amplification of mechanochemical signals and quantify their behaviour, supported by kinetic modelling.
• Work with soft materials and 3D design and understand how signals travel through materials and activate movement responses.
• Develop a systems chemistry approach to employ mechanophores for robotics.
• Excel in a top chemistry group with top-notch infrastructure.

We are looking for a collaborative, creative, and excellent colleague with:

• An M.Sc. degree in chemistry or equivalent.
• Demonstrable research experience in systems chemistry, microfluidics, and/or organic synthesis.
• Motivation to design and synthesize novel reaction networks and study their behaviour in innervated soft robots
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Willingness to acquire a variety of additional skills ranging from basic programming to 3D modelling.
• Well-developed communication and collaboration skills and the ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary environment.

Ph.D. students are expected to develop scientific independence and complete research projects. Enthusiastic Ph.D. students stay abreast of developments in the field, proactively communicate research results, supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. students, and work effectively in a team. We are looking forward for you to joining our team to create new mechanochemistry, materials, and robots.

Additional Information

What can you expect from us?

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

Selection process

Interested?

Information about applying

The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy .

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP application code

Additional comments

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Michael Lerch (Assistant Professor): [e-mail]

Questions about your application process?
Dorien Smit (Human Resources Adviser): [e-mail]