PhD position in biomedical engineering focused on organs-on-chip

Admission to Doctoral (PhD) Studies in the subject Engineering Sciences with specialization in Biomedical Engineering

at the Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University

Join us!

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering aims to be an environment for successful and valuable research and education with a focus on materials science solutions for important societal challenges. Our department is an exciting workplace with research in a broad technology-related area, from basic research to large-scale applied research, and with close contacts with students through the department's involvement in engineering and master's programs. Our research and teaching are conducted within seven divisions with different research focus.

Read more about us here

The Division of Biomedical Engineering is part of the Department of Materials Science, and Engineering at the Ångström Laboratory. We perform research within the development and evaluation of new materials in interaction with biological systems to understand the underlying principles. For us, it is equally important to study the impact of materials on biological processes as well as the impact of biological processes on materials. Our ambition is to foster a dynamic teaching and research environment that is internationally recognised for its excellence in connecting basic research with clinical applications. 

The interdisciplinary research group EMBLA, led by Professor Maria Tenje, conducts successful and internationally recognized research in organs-on-chip and droplet-based microfluidics in collaboration with research teams at several different Swedish and overseas universities. Research funding has been obtained through several prestigious grants, including from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the European Research Council (ERC).

You can read more about the research group at our webpage: http://www.materialvetenskap.uu.se/embla

Project description Organs-on-chip is a growing field of research with the ambition to eventually replace traditional animal experiments. A special focus of our research group is to develop droplet microfluidic systems with integrated acoustics, so-called acoustofluidic systems, to handle and study cells as they grow in a 3D environment mimicking body tissue. Today we are approx. 10 people in the group and within the on-going ERC funded project PHOENIX our research is focused on acoustofluidic solutions for generation of organoids with a controlled cellular architecture.

Duties The main duty for a doctoral student is to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and PhD courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Being a PhD student means independently running projects within a specific subject. You collaborate on an ongoing basis with other doctoral students and researchers to create results within various projects and have one or more supervisors for support during your doctoral studies. However, you work independently to a great amount, e.g. by working in a laboratory environment and writing articles for journals and for results for your doctoral thesis. Usually, some form of half-time seminar is included after about half of the doctoral studies.

When you are admitted to doctoral studies, you are offered employment as a doctoral student. A position as a doctoral student at Uppsala University corresponds to full-time PhD education for four years.

Read more about being a Doctoral student here.

Within the PHOENIX project, your duties will be research on two-phase acoustofluidic systems for the generation of biological constructs with an organized cellular architecture. You will be responsible for fabrication of such systems, using both cleanroom-based techniques and our rapid prototyping tools. You will also be responsible for evaluation of the system’s performance in relation to both mechanical properties, such as acoustic energy density, as well as the biological effects on the cultured cells. Biological evaluations will be in the form of staining and microscopy together with genetic analysis to investigate proliferation and differentiation of the organoids. Mechanical evaluations will also include different material analysis techniques, specifically focused on characterizing acoustic properties of the system.

Requirements Master’s degree in biomedical engineering, engineering sciences, materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology or equivalent merits. We expect that you hold documented experience in (at least) one of the following areas (e.g. from your MSc thesis):

1) culture and characterization of mammalian cells, preferably stem cells or

2) microfluidics systems for biomedical applications

We require good oral and written skills in English.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Additional qualifications It is advantageous to have documented knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Fabrication of and experimental work in microfluidics
• Cell culture, staining protocols and microscopy

We are looking for a creative person with a strong motivation to complete doctoral studies in this interdisciplinary subject. We attach great importance to your personal qualities and are looking for someone with the ability to work both independently and in groups, as the nature of the research regularly changes between these two forms of work. In addition, you must be strongly motivated to complete a doctoral education and want to learn new techniques and methods. You must be able to communicate your research results, have good analytical skills and be structured and able to plan and lead your own work. You also have a good ability to write academic texts.

Your application must include

• A short cover letter in which you describe yourself, why you want to do a PhD and why you are suitable for this position.
• CV (max 2 pages)
• A certified copy of your master's degree and your course grades.
• Copies (or drafts) of your master's thesis and other documents, such as publications, that you wish to refer to.
• Names and contact details of at least two contact persons who have accepted to be references for you, with any additional letters of recommendation. It must also be stated what relationship you have had with the respective referent.

The application should be written in English. We will continuously read applications and call for interviews.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 01-01-2025 or as agreed upon. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Prof. Maria Tenje (maria.tenje@angstrom.uu.se) or Karin Magnusson (karin.magnusson@angstrom.uu.se)

Please submit your application by 18 November 2024, UFV-PA 2024/3496.

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