Ph.D position: Monitoring cellular activity using SECM

Ph.D vacancy (4 years): SECM characterization of functional microtissues in a microfabricated environment.

Job description

Multicellular spheroids play an important role in the fields of tissue engineering and tumor biology as models for tissues since these 3D cell aggregates better mimic in vivo conditions, by reproducing nutrient and signal gradients, cell-cell contacts as well as extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. We have developed in collaboration with the group of Tissue Regeneration (BMTI, U. Twente) a novel technique for preparing large amounts of small-sized (<>

The Ph.D candidate will focus on the SECM-based characterization of spheroids. His/her work will start by mapping the respiratory activity of cells (O₂consumption) of cells in a 3D cell aggregate and to correlate this with the cell fate and the formation of functional microtissues; cell death, proliferation or differentiation present different respiration patterns/level. Following this, the candidate will focus on angiogenesis or the formation/sprouting of capillaries, and this can be seen via the detection of the released NO. Last, the candidate will use SECM as a technique to map the reorganization of cells in functional microtissues.

Requirements

The candidate should have a background in engineering (or physical sciences) and be willing to exploit it for cell biology purposes and the study of living cells. Experience in microfabrication, electrical measurements and cell biology will be appreciated. A good knowledge of scientific English is required for everyday communication in the group and writing of well-structured reports in that language.

BIOS group

The BIOS, Lab-on-a-Chip group is part of the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, located at the University of Twente (The Netherlands) and is considered as a pioneering group in the field of microfluidics. The group offers a multidisciplinary research environment as well as an active social life. More information can be found on our group and our research activities and interests can be found on http://bios.ewi.utwente.nl/.

Conditions of employment

In accordance with the university regulations for academic personnel, the gross salary of a Ph.D student is € 2,000 in the first year to € 2,558 in the last year.

Applications

For more information and application, please contact Séverine Le Gac (+31-53-489-2722; s.legac@ewi.utwente.nl). Applications should consist of an application/motivation letter as well as detailed CV (resume). Please send you application before November 30^th 2009.