Doctoral student in biomedical engineering specialising in acoustics and microfluidics (PA2022/4253)

Are you driven by a desire to explore fundamental physics and are you interested in its future applications in medical technology? Are you keen to build up your own experiments in collaboration with talented colleagues? Are you interested in a career as a researcher in academia or are you preparing for a future job in a research and development department in a company?

The research group is well-reputed in the field of acoustofluidics research due to our fundamental experimental studies of ultrasonic resonances to generate forces on microscopic objects inside microchannels. We also develop applications for this in the medical technology area. Examples of applications are sorting out circulating tumor cells from the blood of cancer patients or capturing extracellular vesicles from blood and urine.

The project you will work on aims to develop ultrasound technology to sort out rare cells from blood samples within a few minutes. To achieve this, we will study fundamental interactions and transport phenomena linked to ultrasonic resonances at the microscale. 

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

The research work will primarily consist of experimental studies of basic physical phenomena related to standing ultrasound waves in microfluidic systems. In the project, we will also develop a technology platform for handling cells in microfluidics systems with the goal of separating, imaging, characterizing, and collecting subgroups of blood cells from blood samples using ultrasound. The following are examples of tasks:

• Work with experimental physics in close collaboration with theorists
• Design of microfluidics chip for acoustic separation of cells
• Build a microfluidic system with pumps, valves, control electronics and software
• Microscopy and image analysis
• Handling of blood samples and cultured cells
• Synthesis of micro and nanoparticles
• Author academic publications and illustrations
• Present research results at scientific conferences
• Assist in the supervision of degree workers and undergraduate students
• Participate in group meetings and seminars

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in biomedical engineering if the applicant has:

• at least 45 second-cycle credits of relevance to the field of study.

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following: 

• Master's degree in engineering physics, nanotechnology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering or equivalent
• Practical experience with microfluidics
• Practical experience with optical systems
• Practical experience in ultrasound physics or technology
• Experience in programming beyond basic courses
• Practical experience in fabrication of mechanical components
• Experience in simulating fluid mechanics
• Experience in image and data processing
• Experience in the synthesis of polymer particles
  

It is important to be structured, self-motivated, initiative-taking, creative, persistent and have good cooperation skills. Consideration will also be given to how the applicant, through the applicants experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.). You are also asked to answer the selection questions.