PhD: Developing metal-organic frameworks for Odour-Based Selective Recognition of Veterinary Disease

The NWA-ORC of the NWO (Research along Routes by Consortia) supports interdisciplinary research that leads to scientific and societal breakthroughs. A team of scientists with complementary expertise of 5 universities, 3 universities of applied sciences and 18 co-funding commercial and societal partners have joined efforts in Odor-Based Selective Recognition of Veterinary Disease (OBSeRVeD).

Chickens that are diseased produce specific odours . In this project we will develop an electronic nose (e-nose) for early detection and recognition of specific diseases in an early stage. This should drastically reduce the use of antibiotics and other chemicals, and improve the welfare of the animals and the environmental impact of livestock farming. The realisation of such an e-nose requires a multidisciplinary to combine porous materials with a high affinity for the disease related odour molecules, with innovative sensor platforms and machine learning to train the system to recognise the odour fingerprint related to specific diseases. As such 5 universities, 3 universities of applied sciences and 18 co-funding commercial and societal partners are joined effort in the project “Odor-Based Selective Recognition of Veterinary Disease (OBSeRVeD)”. The 5 million euro project is funded via NWA-ORC (Dutch Science Agenda, research along Routes by Consortia) by NWO (Dutch Science Foundation).

This PhD project specifically entails the development of metal-organic frameworks that will selectively adsorb the targeted odour molecules, and by which adsorption leads to a change in the properties of the MOF that can detected by the sensor platform (electrical capacity, mechanical resonance and photonic properties). You will also develop convenient deposition techniques to achieve thin MOF-layers on the sensor platforms. You will collaborate and communicate with a large variety of scientists (material scientists, analytical chemists, electrical engineers, veterinary scientists, data scientists and social scientists).

The project will be supervised by dr. ir. Monique A. van der Veen. The van der Veen group focuses on the development of hybrid materials for separation, catalysis and electronics. The group is part of the Catalysis Engineering section at the Department of Chemical Engineering of TU Delft.

To qualify for this position you have (or soon will have) a Master Degree in Chemistry,  or a Master degree in Chemical Engineering or Materials’ Engineering with a proficiency in molecular science (spectroscopy, affinity and synthesis of molecules, analytical chemistry). You have experience in synthesizing materials or molecules via wet-chemistry approaches. You are proficient both in written and spoken English.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers child care and an international primary school. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct ). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

With more than 1,000 employees, including 135 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,400 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we train students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers and science communicators.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

For more information about this position, please contact Monique van der Veen, phone: +31 (0)15-2786458, e-mail: [email protected]. 

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before June 20, 2022 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV, a list of your grades (BSc. And MSc. Level), and names and contact information of three or more references .

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

The NWA-ORC of the NWO (Research along Routes by Consortia) supports interdisciplinary research that leads to scientific and societal breakthroughs. A team of scientists with complementary expertise of 5 universities, 3 universities of applied sciences and 18 co-funding commercial and societal partners have joined efforts in Odor-Based Selective Recognition of Veterinary Disease (OBSeRVeD).

Chickens that are diseased produce specific odours . In this project we will develop an electronic nose (e-nose) for early detection and recognition of specific diseases in an early stage. This should drastically reduce the use of antibiotics and other chemicals, and improve the welfare of the animals and the environmental impact of livestock farming. The realisation of such an e-nose requires a multidisciplinary to combine porous materials with a high affinity for the disease related odour molecules, with innovative sensor platforms and machine learning to train the system to recognise the odour fingerprint related to specific diseases. As such 5 universities, 3 universities of applied sciences and 18 co-funding commercial and societal partners are joined effort in the project “Odor-Based Selective Recognition of Veterinary Disease (OBSeRVeD)”. The 5 million euro project is funded via NWA-ORC (Dutch Science Agenda, research along Routes by Consortia) by NWO (Dutch Science Foundation).

This PhD project specifically entails the development of metal-organic frameworks that will selectively adsorb the targeted odour molecules, and by which adsorption leads to a change in the properties of the MOF that can detected by the sensor platform (electrical capacity, mechanical resonance and photonic properties). You will also develop convenient deposition techniques to achieve thin MOF-layers on the sensor platforms. You will collaborate and communicate with a large variety of scientists (material scientists, analytical chemists, electrical engineers, veterinary scientists, data scientists and social scientists).

The project will be supervised by dr. ir. Monique A. van der Veen. The van der Veen group focuses on the development of hybrid materials for separation, catalysis and electronics. The group is part of the Catalysis Engineering section at the Department of Chemical Engineering of TU Delft.

To qualify for this position you have (or soon will have) a Master Degree in Chemistry,  or a Master degree in Chemical Engineering or Materials’ Engineering with a proficiency in molecular science (spectroscopy, affinity and synthesis of molecules, analytical chemistry). You have experience in synthesizing materials or molecules via wet-chemistry approaches. You are proficient both in written and spoken English.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers child care and an international primary school. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct ). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

With more than 1,000 employees, including 135 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,400 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we train students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers and science communicators.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

For more information about this position, please contact Monique van der Veen, phone: +31 (0)15-2786458, e-mail: [email protected]. 

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before June 20, 2022 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV, a list of your grades (BSc. And MSc. Level), and names and contact information of three or more references .

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.