Optics / photonics engineer or physicist (21364) - Pharmaceutics

   →  Apply before 12/12/2021 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→  Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
→  Department: FW01 - Geneesmiddelenleer
→  Occupancy rate: 100%
→  Number of positions: 1.00
→  Type of employment: Contract of unlimited duration with clause
→  Term of assignment:
→  Wage scale:  PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree)
→  Required diploma: PhD 

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY AND HOST LAB

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 8,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

The Lab. for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy is a world-leading research group on drug delivery by nanomedicines. Apart from its expertise on the development of new nanomaterials for drug delivery, the group has specialized in the development and application of biophotonics technologies for (1) studying the interaction of nanomaterials with biological tissues and (2) for achieving light-mediated drug delivery and therapies. A recent example is the development of ‘photoporation’ as a new technology for delivering compounds into cells and tissues, or for the treatment of ocular diseases. In addition, the group is leading the Ghent University’s Centre for Advanced Light Microscopy, which further testifies to its leading role on optical technologies in the life sciences.

The Lab. for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy hosts 5 professors and their multidisciplinary research teams which collaborate closely on a daily basis. With approximately 40 researchers, the group is looking for a talented and motivated optics/photonics engineer or physicist to provide high-level support to the optics activities which are an integral part of many research projects. Tasks include building dedicated optical setups, ensuring proper operation and quality control of existing optical systems in the lab, providing support with image and data analysis, and support innovation of our research activities e.g. by introducing new optical technologies in the lab. Despite the fact that for these tasks the main emphasis will be on optics, a broader interest and willingness is required to contribute to other research projects where engineering is crucial.

Selected publications

1.         Braeckmans K., Buyens K., Bouquet W., Vervaet C., Joye P., De Vos F., Plawinski L., Doeuvre L., Angles-Cano E., Sanders N.N., Demeester J., De Smedt S.C. Sizing nanomatter in biological fluids by fluorescence Single Particle Tracking. Nano Letters 10, 4435-4442 (2010).

2.         Deschout H., Raemdonck K., Stremersch S., Maoddi P., Mernier G., Renaud P., Jiguet S., Hendrix A., Bracke M., Van den Broecke R., Röding M., Rudemo M., Demeester J., De Smedt S.C., Strubbe F., Neyts K., Braeckmans K. On-chip light sheet illumination enables diagnostic size and concentration measurements of membrane vesicles in biofluids. Nanoscale 6, 1741-1747 (2014).

3.         Teirlinck E., Xiong R., Brans T., Forier K., Fraire J., Van Acker H., Matthijs N., De Rijcke R., De Smedt S.C., Coenye T., Braeckmans K. Laser-Induced Vapour Nanobubbles Improve Drug Diffusion and Efficiency in Bacterial Biofilms. Nature Communications 9, Article Number 4518 (2018).

4.         Sauvage F., Fraire J.C., Remaut K., Sebag J., Peynshaert K., Harrington M., Van de Velde F.J., Xiong R., Tassignon M.J., Brans T., Braeckmans K., De Smedt S.C. Photoablation of human vitreous opacities by light-induced vapor nanobubbles. ACS Nano 13, 8401-8416 (2019).

5.         Xiong R., Hua D., Van Hoeck J., Berdecka D., Léger L., De Munter S., Fraire J., Raes L., Harizaj A., Sauvage F., Goetgeluk G., Pille M., Aalders J., Belza J., Van Acker T., Fernandez E.B., Si T., Vanhaecke F., De Vos W., Vandekerckhove B., van Hengel J., Raemdonck K., Huang C., De Smedt S.C., Braeckmans K. Photothermal nanofibers enable safe engineering of therapeutic cells. Nature Nanotechnology DOI: 10.1038/s41565-021-00976-3 (2021).

YOUR TASKS

• At least 70% of your assignment will be spent on academic research.
• Designing, constructing and optimizing dedicated optical setups to support ongoing research projects.
• Being responsible for existing optical set-ups in the lab, performing maintenance and QC, and giving trainings to new users (e.g. setups for photoporation, experimental microscopy setups etc.).
• Innovation of optics-based technologies for drug delivery, for instance by developing improvements to existing technologies or by introducing new technologies in the lab
• Develop software tools to support quantitative image and data analysis.
• Contribute to more general technical and engineering tasks in the lab, such as ICT related tasks or providing assistance to setting up experimental techniques.          
• Contribute to teaching tasks of the lab, such as providing demonstrations for the doctoral’s school specialist course on Light Microscopy and the master’s course on Bionanotechnology.
• Attracting funding by contributing to the writing of research proposals in the field.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate in Physics or Engineering Physics or Engineering Photonics, or equivalent (obtained max. 6 years ago. This term of 6 years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma).
• We are looking to extend our team with a highly motivated enthusiastic optics/photonics engineer or physicist to support the optics activities in our lab on a long-term basis. A contract at the level of postdoctoral researcher is offered, starting in February 2022 or as soon as possible afterwards. In case of a positive evaluation 1 year after the start, the contract can be extended.
• The candidate must have a strong interest in biological and biomedical applications, as well as willingness to work and collaborate in a multidisciplinary team.
• The candidate must have the willingness and interest to contribute to technical and engineering tasks in the lab in a broad manner.
• Programming experience is required as well, including LabView and Matlab.
• The candidate must be able to speak and write fluently in English.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a contract of indefinite duration with a maximum term of 1 year which can be extended afterwards following a positive evaluation 
• Your contract will start on 1/02/2022 at the earliest.
• You will be part of a dynamic and multidisciplinary team that is highly motivated to perform high-level research on drug delivery supported by advanced optical technologies.
• Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale PD1. Click here for more information about our salary scales .
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers.. Click here for a complete overview of all the staffbenefits  (in Dutch).

INTERESTED?

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.

Selected candidates will be invited for an interview and further discussion. Additional information about the Lab. Of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy (director: prof. Stefaan De Smedt, co-director: prof. Kevin Braeckmans), can be found on our website: http://www.biofys.ugent.be .

Your application must include the following documents:

• In the field ‘CV’: your CV and an overview of your study results (merged into one pdf file)
• In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
• In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
• In the field “other documents”: a reference letter, an overview of your study results,  …

Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Kevin Braeckmans ([email protected] ). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read our FAQ .