PhD Position Theoretical Biophysics – Signal Processing and Optimization for Early Gene Regulation

Would you like to use statistical physics to understand how gene regulation can be accurate?

Early development and cell differentiation are often highly precise and stereotyped, which is crucial for healthy organism development. This precision requires that genes are carefully regulated; yet, gene regulation depends on the movement and binding of individual proteins, making it intrinsically stochastic or noisy. This project will address theoretically how gene regulation can be accurate despite this noise theoretically, and is part of a Vidi grant on this question.

We aim to use stochastic models and simulations combined with statistical physics and information theory to understand what “strategies” organisms use to achieve precision in processing protein signals. This project is theoretical, but includes close collaborations with experimentalists studying gene regulation in early mouse and fly development, as well as in synthetic systems. We will then compare the expected behaviour of these models to experimental observations from mouse and fly development, and hope, in final stages of the project, to make predictions for synthetic experiments.

Our theoretical biophysics group in Delft is embedded in the larger theory community at the Bionanoscience Department at TU Delft. The project will involve regular meetings with your advisor as well as regular meetings with the group, the broader community, and experimental collaborators. These interactions will help guide the PhD project, and your initiative is welcome to shape later stages of this project.

The job requires a MSc in physics, mathematics, nano-biology or a related natural science discipline, with a strong interest in theory as well as biophysics.

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate with the following expertise:

• You are passionate about (bio)physics, numerics, mathematics, and biology.
• You are fascinated by both the computational mathematical aspects and biology. Note that a pure synthetic biology background is not suitable for this position.
• You have affinity for combining numerical and analytical calculations.
• You have an interest in Statistical Physics.
• You possess some programming skills, for example in Python.
• You have a good command of the English language, both oral and written.

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 .

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.

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 as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 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 educate innovative 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.

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

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Marianne Bauer, [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 18 August 2024 via the application button and upload:

• Your motivation. Include in your motivation your experience with numerics/programming/analytics, and why you choose to apply for this particular project. (max 1 page);
• CV;
• BSc and MSC academic records (including courses and grades);
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references. 

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.