The postdoctoral research project involves the development of a gas sensor, particularly targeting volatiles in exhaled breath (e.g. methane and hydrogen cyanide) using optical schemes (e.g. quantum cascade lasers/interband cascade lasers). This work involves collaboration with Alpes Lasers (Neuchatel, Switzerland) and Argos Med, Karlsruhe (Germany) within an international consortium supported by the ’Fact-based personalised nutrition for the young – Nutrishield’ project. The secondary goal is the use of analytical techniques based on mass spectrometry for multicomponent volatile detection and validation of gas sensors developed in the project.
Job description, responsibilities and tasks:

• development of a gas sensor (merely expertise in using commercial sensors is not sufficient);
• measurement of exhaled volatiles (incl. using analytical instrumentation);
• data acquisition, analysis and interpretation.

• PhD degree in physics or a related discipline;
• good knowledge of gas sensing, laser spectroscopy, lock-in techniques, data analysis, sensor acquisition programming;
• prior experimental experience with gas sensing, data acquisition;
• programming skills (MatLab, Lab view);
• fluency in English is required.

• employment: 1.0 FTE
• a maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,274 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 10)
• in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• duration of the contract: up to 2,5 years with a 2-month trial period
• you will be classified as a Postdoctoral Researcher, Level 4 (Onderzoeker) in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO)
• you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Faculty of Science
The project will involve contact with a broad network across a wide variety of technologies, thereby providing a broad interdisciplinary experience within a collaborative academic, governmental and commercial environment. Furthermore, the Exhaled Biomarkers group is conducting pilot studies focused on monitoring real-time signatures of metabolic processes in the human body reflected in exhaled breath and unravelling their mechanisms of action.
 
Further information on Life Science Trace Gas Facility & Trace Gas Research Group