Eindhoven University of Technology is recruiting an ambitious PhD candidate who will study the reciprocal interaction between cells and engineered polymer materials, and who will apply this knowledge to improve the interaction of medical implants with the human body. The successful candidate is competent in cell biology and equally interested in biomaterial engineering; she/he is passionate about molecular biology and has a desire to unravel biomolecular mechanisms. The research performed by the candidate is an essential link between biomaterial engineering and clinical application of biomaterials in regenerative medicine, which is the focus of the cluster Regenerative Medical Engineering.
Job Description Within the framework of the Interactive Polymer Materials
program, the candidate will work in the lab of Prof. Jan de Boer (
www.jandeboerlab.com) on the reciprocal interaction between and cells and the extracellular matrix in which they live, with an emphasis on the ageing extracellular matrix. In collaboration with polymer chemists at TU/e, the research will investigate molecular signaling pathways activated by artificially ageing synthetic matrices, and in reverse, transgenic cell technology will be used to investigate the response of said matrices to senescence-related secretome changes. The PhD candidate is expected to perform scientific research in the field described above, write a doctoral thesis, and publish research results in scientific journals. An educational and professional development program is offered to all PhD candidates. You will also be involved in teaching of undergraduate courses offered by the cluster, as well as contribute to the supervision of bachelor and master students.