Loss of eyesight is a terrible disease that is still very difficult to treat. Often, not the entire function of the eye is lost; the nerve cells are still operational but the light signals are not passed on efficiently. If communication between the cone and rod cells with the nerve cells in the retina therefore is restored, the function of the eye can be recovered. This communication is performed via the exchange of small molecules such as glutamate. In the multidisciplinary FET Open project HYVIS (
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/964468,
https://hybrid-vision.eu/ ) we aim to achieve this restoration of communication using an implantable device on the retina. We need you to develop one of the crucial aspects of this device, namely a polymer that responds to light and thereby opens or closes nanopores from which glutamate can be released. You are an excellent polymer chemist, with also affinity for organic chemistry, engineering and device development. You are creative and independent, and highly motivated by scientific challenges. Furthermore, you are part of an international team of interdisciplinary researchers, and you therefore have excellent communication skills and team playing capacity.