PhD - Development of a Novel Lab-on-a-Chip Component for the Analysis and Sorting of Single Cells

Your tasks

As part of our research team, you will work on cutting-edge solutions for the life sciences. We are offering a PhD position to develop a novel dielectrophoresis (DEP) chip for the analysis and sorting of single cells.

Multi-omics analyses at the single-cell level offer crucial diagnostic insights into diseases. However, current automation technologies are often inefficient and expensive. Your project will focus on overcoming these limitations by developing an image-based DEP chip to automate the compartmentation, sample preparation, analysis, and sorting of single cells. This technology aims to enable high-throughput, gentle multi-omics analyses for universal sample types.

• You will develop and evaluate innovative concepts for semiconductor-based dielectrophoresis (DEP) chips, determining robust electrical, microfluidic, and thermal operating parameters.
• Furthermore, you will investigate the physical limits of chip miniaturization and explore feasible manufacturing routes compatible with Bosch’s CMOS technology.
• You will design and fabricate a functional demonstrator using semiconductor manufacturing processes and integrate it into a microfluidic system.
• Last but not least, you will characterize the prototype and perform a proof of concept for all operating modes using a representative bioassay with living cells in physiological media.

Your profile

• Education: excellent Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Microsystems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, or a comparable field
• Experience and Knowledge: detailed knowledge of classical MEMS, microfluidics, and biomedical engineering; expertise in microfluidic and electrical design for lab-on-chip systems; experience in modeling of physical cell interactions at the microscale; knowledge of (optical) signal processing; experience with cleanroom processes and knowledge of oncology are advantageous
• Personality and Working Practice: you actively contribute your ideas and communicate your research results clearly and convincingly; your curiosity motivates you to explore new approaches, and you enjoy taking a hands-on role; you work in a structured manner to achieve your goals, develop creative solutions to complex challenges, and independently conduct experiments
• Languages: very good written and spoken German and English