PhD student: High-throughput Electron Microscopy Development

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey as a PhD student at the crossroads of electron optics, high-resolution microscopy instrumentation, cellular applications, and AI?

About the program:

Developing new pharmaceuticals, understanding how cancer cells respond to chemotherapy, or building ever more powerful computer chips – all this, and more, requires imaging at the smallest possible scales. Within the national research programs NEXTGEN HighTech and 3DNI we develop technology for super-fast 3D imaging of atoms, molecules, and cells. To achieve this goal, we engineer novel light and electron microscopy technology. Combining these with computer algorithms and artificial intelligence unveils details smaller than the wavelength used for microscopy.

The position:

Do you want to pursue a PhD with impact on science and society? We develop new technology to revolutionize our capabilities in microscopy, realizing super-fast 3D nanoscale imaging. We collaborate with partners in industry and in biomedical sciences to apply our technology and knowledge in relevant problems and products for broad implementation. And we are now looking for a PhD candidate to work at the intersection of imaging physics, nanotechnology, biology and AI, in close collaboration with other students and researchers in our collaborative research programs.

Contrary to traditional single-beam electron microscopes, our new FAST-EM microscope operates with 64 beams in parallel achieving unprecedented acquisition speed. This gives us the possibility to image entire cells, tissues, and organs, at the highest possible resolution in 3D, zooming in and out like in Google Maps. In this project, we will further optimize the FAST-EM detector and image acquisition to allow for even faster imaging and correlation with other microscopy techniques. We will apply our technology to high-resolution and super-fast 3D imaging of models for brain diseases and cancer.

Your role:

The primary goal of this research is to optimize the FAST-EM detector for faster and multi-modal image acquisition. You will develop a practical model for signal generation and detection in the FAST-EM detector and use this model to further optimize the detector layout. Together with our support staff and commercial partners, you will realize the optimized detectors, demonstrate their improved performance, and apply these in the 3D imaging of cancer organoids samples provided by our academic partners. You will be part of a national multidisciplinary consortium (Delft University of Technology (TUD), UMC Groningen (UMCG), UMC Utrecht (UMCU), commercial partners Delmic and Technolution, and contribute to the development of innovative solutions for high-throughput multi-beam electron microscopy.

• Master's degree in (applied) physics, engineering, imaging science, or a related field
• Strong knowledge on (electron) optics and solid-state physics
• Keen interest in electron and correlated microscopy and life science applications
• Knowledge of imaging techniques
• Familiarity with computer simulations and modelling.
• Effortless English communication skills, both spoken and written
• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical thinking
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with interdisciplinary team members

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 the form of 2 employment contracts. After 1 year there will be an official go/no go progress assessment, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 3 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, providing an inspiring research and training 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.

In addition we offer:

• Access to cutting-edge laboratory equipment and resources
• A supportive and collaborative research environment
• Opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in the field
• Presentation of your research at (inter)national conferences

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.

The department of Imaging Physics, within Faculty Applied Sciences, TU Delft, performs cutting-edge research spanning the range from understanding the basic principles underlying imaging technology to automated image analysis. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School, providing an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor.

TU Delft Department of Imaging Physics: https://www.tudelft.nl/tnw/over-faculteit/afdelingen/imphys/

Hoogenboom Lab: https://www.hoogenboomlab.org/

PhD @TU Delft: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/education/programmes/phd/

For additional information you may contact: [email protected] 

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 31-01-2024 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV and and at least two contacts for reference letters.

• 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.