PhD student position - "Development of multi-functional neural electrode with the use of conducting polymer"

7 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Gdansk University of Technology, WETI, KIB

Department

Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication and Informatics

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering
Engineering » Biomedical engineering
Engineering » Biomaterial engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Poland

Application Deadline

15 Apr 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Other

Offer Starting Date

1 Oct 2024

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

Proejct description: 

Currently, one thousand million people suffer from neurological issues, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, migraines, sclerosis, or neural infections. In most cases, restoration of the neural path can be done by the introduction of electrodes within the neural tissue. Placing the electrode in the neural environment results in the spontaneous formation of the interface between neural tissue and the surface of the electrode. Because signals transmission in the nervous system depends on the electrical carrier (ions) and chemical carrier (neurotransmitters), monitoring/stimulating the nervous system by the electrode can be obtained through the electrical and chemical interface.

The main aim of the proposal is to develop a multifunctional PEDOT-based electrode for neural tissue interface. The studies will include the fabrication and investigation of PEDOT-based electrode toward its electronic and chemical neural interface. The effect of three main conditions will be examined during the fabrication process: type of the polymer synthesis (electrodeposition, drop-casting), a form of the synthesized polymer coating (solid film, hydrogel), and type of the electrode substrate (rigid, flexible). The chemical interface of the specified PEDOT electrodes will be modified by the introduction of an anti-inflammatory drug reservoir. The drug release profile of each electrode during the electrode stimulation will be examined. The stability profile of PEDOT electrodes during its stimulation will be investigated. The stability mechanism will be proposed and discussed. Biological characterization of the electrodes will be evaluated in the presence of neural human cell lines.

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

- Education: higher (MSc, MSc. Eng.) in a field of biomedical engineering, materials engineering, chemistry, electronics, or other related.- Professional experience: participation in a scientific project or scientific conference for students is appreciated,

- Professional experience: research tasks performed within the MSc thesis should be related to biomedical applications, materials engineering, or other related; participation in a scientific project, a scientific conference for students, or co-author in conference/journal publications are appreciated.

- The minimum required scope of knowledge and experience: basic knowledge in materials engineering (in particular: polymers, conducting polymers) and electrochemistry (performing basic measurements), basic analysis of the material's structure and morphology; English language skills at an advanced level.

Specific Requirements

Tasks:

- electrochemical fabrication of PEDOT electrodes: hydrogel PEDOT form on rigid and elastic substrates, performing electrochemical measurements of the electrodes, data analysis,

- modification of hydrogel PEDOT-based electrode with drug reservoir, performing electrochemical measurements to study drug release profile during the electrode stimulation, data analysis,

- fabrication of hydrogel PEDOT electrodes (rigid and elastic substrate) for ORP-EIS measurement; impedance data analysis and modeling,

- preparation of scientific manuscripts for publication,

- short-term abroad research stay,

- presentation of the results at the conferences

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineeringEngineering » Biomedical engineeringEngineering » Electrical engineering

Additional Information
Additional comments

Deadline for applications: 15.04.2024

Conditions of employment: scholarship 3000-4000 PLN/month + successful recruitment to the doctoral school at GUT (https://pg.edu.pl/en/doctoral-school )

Additional information: To apply, please send your CV and motivation letter to the e-mail address: [email protected] (PI of the project: dr inż. Karolina Cysewska). The selected candidates will be invited for an interview. 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Gdansk University of Technology

Country

Poland

City

Gdańsk

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Gdańsk

Website

https://eti.pg.edu.pl/en/kimf

Street

Narutowicza 11/12

Postal Code

80-233

E-Mail

[email protected]

Phone

782975262

STATUS: EXPIRED