Researcher Position in Electrophysiology 1

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft); Delft; On-site; EUR 41,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension scheme (ABP)

Individual employment package options

Education, training and courses

Flexible working week

Leave and holiday allowances

Job summary

TU Delft is offering a 1-year researcher position in the Microelectronics Department to study neural activity with electrophysiology and bioelectronic interfaces. You will develop protocols for recording and stimulating neural cultures interfaced with microelectrode arrays and hydrogel constructs.

The role combines biology, materials, and electronics in a multidisciplinary environment. You will work on data analysis, experimental rigor, and reproducible methods while collaborating with PhD

Qualifications

• An MSc degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, neuroscience, cell biology, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, preferably neuronal or stem-cell-derived cultures.
• Experience with electrophysiological recordings and electrical stimulation of cells.
• Familiarity with microelectrode arrays (MEAs) or other electrophysiological recording technologies is highly desirable.
• Experience with hydrogels, biomaterials or 3D cell culture is considered an advantage.
• Strong experimental skills and the ability to analyse, interpret and document quantitative biological and electrophysiological data.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative, while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
• Excellent communication skills and good proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Characterize neural cell cultures electrophysiologically using MEA and soft bioelectronic interfaces.
• Develop robust experimental protocols and quantitative analysis pipelines.
• Document procedures and contribute to scientific publications arising from the project.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Electrophysiological recordings

Electrical stimulation

MEAs familiarity

Hydrogels/3D culture

Data analysis

Independent working

English communication

Education

MSc in biomedical engineering or related field

Tools

MEAs

Hydrogel interfaces

Job description

Study neural activity using electrophysiology, bioelectronic interfaces and 3D hydrogel cell cultures.

Job description

A 1-year researcher position is available in the research group of Achilleas Savva in the Department of Microelectronics at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Our research aims to develop multifunctional bioelectronic interfaces that can monitor, stimulate and interact with biological systems. By combining organic electronic materials, soft hydrogels, microfabricated electrodes and advanced cell culture models, we develop technologies for studying electrophysiological activity and engineering new interfaces with the nervous system.

In this project, you will focus on the electrophysiological characterization of neural cell cultures using microelectrode arrays and soft bioelectronic interfaces. You will work with microfabricated electrode technologies developed within our group and establish experimental protocols for recording and stimulating electrically active cells and tissues.

A major part of your work will involve cell culture and electrophysiological measurements, including the preparation and maintenance of neural cell cultures, integration of cells with electrode arrays and hydrogel constructs, and recording of their electrical activity. You will perform and analyse extracellular electrophysiological recordings to investigate parameters such as neuronal activity, network development and responses to electrical stimulation. You will also investigate how 3D and hydrogel-based culture environments influence cellular electrophysiology. This will include integrating cells within soft hydrogel constructs and interfacing these constructs with microelectrode arrays to establish reproducible platforms for recording and stimulation. Depending on the project development, you may also contribute to the electrical and electrochemical characterization of electrodes and bioelectronic devices.

An important part of the position will be the development of robust experimental protocols and quantitative analysis pipelines that allow comparison between different electrode technologies, cell culture conditions and hydrogel environments. You will document experimental procedures, analyse and interpret electrophysiological data, and contribute to scientific publications arising from the project.

You will be embedded in the multidisciplinary Bioelectronics research team at TU Delft and work closely with PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and students developing organic bioelectronics, conducting hydrogels, microelectrode arrays and neural interfaces. The position offers the opportunity to work at the interface of bioelectronics, electrophysiology, cell biology and biomaterials, while contributing to the development of next-generation technologies for monitoring and stimulating neural systems.

Job requirements

• An MSc degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, neuroscience, cell biology, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, preferably neuronal or stem-cell-derived cultures.
• Experience or a strong interest in electrophysiological recordings and electrical stimulation of cells.
• Familiarity with microelectrode arrays (MEAs) or other electrophysiological recording technologies is highly desirable.
• Experience with hydrogels, biomaterials or 3D cell culture is considered an advantage.
• Strong experimental skills and the ability to analyse, interpret and document quantitative biological and electrophysiological data.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative, while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
• Excellent communication skills and good proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 1 year.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3706 - €5760 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Achilleas Savva, via [e-mail].

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest.You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.