PhD Position in Biosensing using colorful liquid crystals

Your job

Have you ever wondered about the unusual molecules that give rise to vibrant, structural colors on butterfly wings, and how they could be possibly used for biotechnological applications? Are you eager to understand how these fascinating manifestations, orchestrated by chiral liquid crystals, originate at the microscale? Are you interested in developing lab-on-a-chip biosensing technologies that can contribute to improving food, medicine, and other industries?
Are you a creative thinker, eager to tackle an exciting liquid crystal-based biosensing project using state-of-the-art facilities in a multidisciplinary and a collaborative department? If so, this might be the perfect PhD position for you!

What will you do?

• develop a store-and-sense on-chip liquid crystal emulsion platform to allow amphiphile detection in real time;
• carry out systematic profiling of novel stabilizers and their effect on sensor sensitivity and optical response;
• develop an ELISA-like optical assay to detect antigen-antibody interactions as well as explore detection of other bio-amphiphiles such as fatty acids, endotoxins, and antimicrobial peptides;
• take concrete steps towards a prototype dried portable array of liquid crystal-based biosensors;
• utilize biochemistry and molecular biology techniques to complement the microfabrication, microscopy, and physical chemistry side of the research;
• collaborate with the fellow PhD student of the consortium in a cohesive manner.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
There is an urgent need in biosensor innovation to make them faster, more affordable, and more sensitive, while maintaining target-molecule specificity. In this project, we will develop color-changing, liquid crystal emulsions as biosensing platforms that address these needs. Liquid crystals are an in-between phase of matter composed of rod-shaped molecules, that can flow like a liquid but are also ordered like a crystal.

They exhibit different optical properties along distinct axes, such that when the rods organize, the material becomes birefringent, making it capable of altering light. These unique dielectric properties are at the basis of the widely used display industry. Interestingly, liquid crystals can also swiftly respond to external stimuli such as the presence of biomolecules, making them highly promising for biosensing applications.

In this project, we will use microscopy, spectroscopy and lab-on-a-chip technologies to study how chiral liquid crystals allow for color-changing signals depending on the nature and the concentration of target, amphiphilic biomolecules. We will examine how the underlying molecular shape of the target molecule impacts the chiral ordering of the liquid crystal and the resultant optical signal. Through systematic characterization of their optical responses, we will advance the promising field of cholesteric liquid crystals as sensitive, specific, and quantitative biological sensors. Beyond the innovation of biosensors, our findings will shed light on chiral organization in crowded environments, of relevance to biological systems.

This PhD position is a part of the NWO-M2 grant in joint collaboration with Lisa Tran’s lab embedded within the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science situated at Utrecht University.

Your qualities

• you have an MSc degree (or equivalent) in (bio)physics, soft matter, nanotechnology, physical chemistry, or a related field;
• you have a strong affinity for interdisciplinary research and the capacity to dive into unexplored areas;
• prior experience in liquid crystals, microfluidics, microscopy, image analysis, programming and coding is a plus;
• you are capable of working independently but are also a good team player;
• you have good communication and presentation skills.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Siddharth Deshpande (assistant professor), by e-mail: siddharth.deshpande@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, corporate recruiter, by e-mail: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply until April 21^st, 2025. The first interviews are scheduled shortly after the closing date.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using THIS LINK.

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

You will work here
You will join the EmBioSys Lab, embedded within the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, and situated at Wageningen University,. Led by Siddharth Deshpande, EmBioSys lab is an interdisciplinary group, and our broad vision is to tackle unsolved biological questions through appropriate bottom-up/biomimetic systems and create soft matter-based materials with biotechnological potential. The current research tackles diverse topics: from shaping synthetic cells and studying protein phase separation, to designing biosensors and making stable emulsions. The use and development of on-chip microfluidic technology forms an integral part of the lab.

About Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves and do not appreciate unasked for services from recruitment agencies. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.