Research within the Sensor Engineering research group of Maastricht University is focused on developing innovative sensor technologies for implementation in diverse fields ranging from the healthcare sector to the food industry. We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate with a strong background in biochemistry, organic chemistry and/or electrochemistry. The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary team that combines chemistry, electrical engineering, materials science and biology. The strategy of the research group aims at combining smart sensing technology with chemical and biomedical engineering to acquire knowledge and streamline applications for use in real life applications.  

The Sensor Engineering research group has extensive expertise in electrochemical and thermal biosensing and has recently develop a sensor platform that is able to detect bacteria by means of synthetic receptor layers. Although the sensor platforms based on these receptors are very promising and are the topic of numerous publications, limited knowledge exists on their practical application in an industrial environment. The goal of the PhD project is to make the bacteria receptor synthesis scalable and investigate sensing strategies for inline measurements in the agrofood industry. 

The research project will be part of a larger European private-public cooperation (Interreg Va Flanders-the Netherlands project: AgrEUfood) which aims at investigating the potential application of biomimetic sensors in the agrofood industry. The candidate will collaborate with researchers at both universities and industrial partners.

https://www.grensregio.eu/projecten/agreufood

Applications are invited for a full-time PhD position. Candidates will work in a young, ambitious team consisting of researchers trained in various scientific disciplines. This stimulating, interdisciplinary and multicultural environment requires a candidate that has outstanding knowledge of scientific English both in speaking and in writing. The candidate should have a Master’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, or equivalent.

The full-time position is offered for four years (first year + three years after receiving a positive evaluation) with a yearly evaluation. The salary will be set in PhD salary scale of the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities (€2.325 gross per month in first year to €2.972 last year). On top of this, there is an 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance. The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labor Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO).Employees relocating from abroad may be eligible for the Dutch ‘30% ruling’, a tax advantage which results in a significantly higher net salary. Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees

Sensor Engineering

Research at the Sensor Engineering research group is very divers given the interdisciplinary nature of biosensor research and combines chemistry with physics, biology and engineering. Within the group we focus on the development of novel technologies that could contribute to significant advancements in diverse fields in healthcare as well as the (agrofood) industry. 

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.