PhD position - Cell Line Engineering for Cellular Agriculture

14 May 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

15 Jun 2024 - 21:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

PhD Research project

As part of this new and exciting research program at TU Delft, we are seeking to hire a PhD student to contribute to the development of CA, focusing on the engineering of mammalian cell lines with desirable properties for upscaled cultivated meat production. Such properties include immortalisation, capacity for extreme-density cultivation, resistance to cellular stresses (for example, shear stress induced by agitation), and proliferation in minimal media (with respect to both growth factors, and basic nutrient sources).

The PhD candidate will design and optimise strategies for the engineering of such phenotypes into mammalian cells from agriculturally relevant species, using a variety of genetic modification and gene editing tools, including CRISPR/Cas9. Initial projects might include the development of an immortal and apoptosis-resistant muscle cell line. Attention will be paid to the methods used, to ensure industry-relevance in a complex regulatory landscape. For example, precision nuclease-, base- and prime-editing techniques will be employed where appropriate. The candidate will also combine gene edits/modifications to produce candidate cell lines for subsequent screening in upscaled culture systems, in collaboration with other members of the group and department. This work will contribute to the development of integral process concepts for CA products based on mammalian cell culture.

Key focus points:

• Gene editing for the engineering of new or improved phenotypes into a variety of mammalian cell lines.
• Characterization of novel cell lines with a variety of techniques including cell-based assays, microscopy and flow cytometry.
• Collaboration with Bioprocess Engineers for the testing of promising cell lines in upscaled culture systems.

You will have the opportunity to further develop your scientific career by 1) becoming an expert in cutting edge genetic modification and gene editing techniques, 2) expanding your skill set with various cell biological techniques, and 3) honing the ability to apply creativity and conceptual thinking to answer pressing research questions. In addition, you will participate in educational activities and gain experience as a supervisor of BSc/MSc research projects.

Research group

This position will be embedded in the Bioprocess Engineering section at the Department of Biotechnology, within the research group of Joshua Flack (Cellular Engineering). Close collaboration is envisaged with other groups within the BPE section, including Marieke Klijn (Data-driven Bioprocess Development) and Marcel Ottens (Bioprocess Engineering). The Bioprocess Engineering section has mammalian cell culture, advanced bioprocess monitoring, fermentation and process design expertise present (USP & DSP). The research is part of the national NGF CA program.

Preferred start date: September 2024

Requirements
Specific Requirements

The ideal candidate will be an ambitious, proactive, reflective, and results-driven researcher. We are looking for the following:

• MSc degree in a field relevant to the subject, such as Cell Biology, Biochemistry or Biochemical Engineering.
• Prior laboratory experience with mammalian cell culture is essential.
• Experience with standard molecular biology and cloning techniques is essential.
• Experience with gene editing techniques (such as CRISPR/Cas9) is highly desirable.
• A strong interest in cellular agriculture/cultivated meat is essential, although specific prior experience in this area is not required.
• This is a new line of research at TU Delft, and the candidate should feel excited to establish new methodologies, protocols and readouts within the research group.
• Strong teamwork skills and confidence to take the lead in collaborations.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Strong communication/reporting and presentation skills

[insert requirements from form here, please make sure to make sure that the text below about language requirements is NOT removed]

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Additional Information
Benefits

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 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 a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Selection process

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 15 June 2024 via the application button and upload only your motivation letter and CV.

• 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.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Additional comments

Only for more information about this vacancy, please contact Assistant Professor Joshua Flack, group leader Bioprocess Engineering, e-mail address is [email protected]

Only for more information about the application procedure, please contact Ms. Kawieta Ramautar, Management Assistant, per e-mail [email protected]

**It is our aim to have the interviews on 28 June, 5, 8 and 9 July 2024.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/341462/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Delft University of Technology

Country

Netherlands

City

Delft

Postal Code

2628 CD

Street

Mekelweg 2

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/341462/phd-position-cell-line-engineering-f…

Contact

City

Delft

Website

http://www.tudelft.nl/

Street

Mekelweg 2

Postal Code

2628 CD

STATUS: EXPIRED