Denmark : PhD fellowship in Multiphoton Photopolymerization

A 3-year PhD fellowship is available at the Technical University of Denmark, Department of Micro and Nanotechnology in the group of Professor Niels B. Larsen, Polymer Microtechnology for Cell Processing (PolyCell). The fellowship is part of a three-year research programme on "Microshaping hydrogels and their chemistry in 3D for optimizing and validating immune cell migration”.

The main focus of the project is microstructuring of hydrogel scaffolds by multiphoton photopolymerization, which is a novel technology and research area. The goal of the project is to produce advanced technology and methods for evaluation of immune cell migratory behavior, to enhance the success of clinical outcomes in the area of immunotherapy.

You will make use of the newest developments in multi-photon photopolymerization (www.nanoscribe.de) to reproduce the three-dimensional (3D) micro-structure of human soft tissue in water-containing polymeric hydrogels, as scaffolds for immune cell migration analysis. The scaffolds will be chemically surface engineered to present concentration gradients of the same biomolecules that guide immune cells in the body. Microstructured hydrogels will be fabricated with pore sizes matching the cellular dimensions. You will work on design, fabrication and characterization of 3D hydrogels with incorporated signaling molecules. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with a scientist with biological background, who will carry out the cell-based assays, needed to evaluate the functionality of the hydrogels. In early stages of the project, you will also be responsible for producing microstructured hydrogels by conventional casting against microstructured silicon master structures, until the photopolymerization equipment is in operation. Thus, the work tasks will also include conventional clean room work to produce the required master structures.

We are a group of young enthusiastic individuals focusing on generation of highly controlled microenvironments for culture, manipulation and analysis of sensitive human cells that require more accurate environmental control than offered by traditional cell culture. The polymer microfabrication activities are complemented by cell and molecular biology competences as well as general skills within automated time-lapse microscopy analysis of cell behavior. The multidisciplinary nature of the group, including people with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, biochemistry, and cell biology, is ideal for the cross-disciplinary activities of this project.

Qualifications
Candidates should preferably have a master's degree in chemistry, microtechnology, or engineering sciences, or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment
The PhD scholarship is subject to academic approval and the candidate will be enrol­led in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.

Salary and appoint­­ment terms
The salary and appoint­­ment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD students at DTU. The position is available for a period of 3 years.

Application
We must have your online application by February 15, 2010. Please open the link "apply for this job online", fill in the application form and attach all the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae of the applicant including a list of publications (guidelines)
• A letter motivating the application (guidelines)
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
• Conversion of grade averages to Danish grades (guidelines and excel spreadsheet for the conversion)

Interviews will be held in the period from the 1^st to the 3^rd of March 2010.

Candidates may apply prior to ob­tai­ning their master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.

DTU needs diver­sity and supports equal opportunities irrespective of gender, age, and ethnic background.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Niels B. Larsen, tel.: +45 4677 4721.

You can read more about “DTU Nanotech” on www.nanotech.dtu.dk

Apply Online

Application Deadline : 15 February 2010

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Posted on 2010-02-11 07:52:54

The announced deadline for above scholarship is expired and new applications may no longer be accepted. The notice is available for reference purpose only.

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