Would you like to contribute to enhancing the future of organ transplantation ? Come join the Robotics Group of the Mechanical Department and research the next generation of bioreactors for organ maintenance and growth. You will work in close collaboration with clinicians to develop an intelligent robotic bioreactor capable of adapting to the organ to optimize its maintenance and growth. 

Job Description

A bioreactor is a tank used to provide a tissue-specific physiological in vitro environment for the culture and maintenance of tissues and organs ex-vitro. However, the current bioreactors have limited adaptation capabilities to the cultured tissue, which impede the tissue proper development and growth.   

In this PhD project, you will investigate the embodied intelligence design technique to develop an adaptive, intelligent robotic bioreactor which behavior, both on the software and hardware level, can respond to the tissue needs.

As a use case, a "knee" robotic bioreactor for the study of Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACL) will be built. ACL surgical reconstruction suffers from a high incidence of a second ACL injury after the first procedure in young and active individuals. The reason for this high incidence is still unknown. The robotic bioreactor can therefore help bring answers by mimicking the knee and develop and grow ligament grafts.

The candidate will focus on the design and control of the robotic bioreactor. You will therefore become a member of the Robotics Team at the Mechanical Engineering Department. You will also work in close collaboration with clinicians from the Maxima Medisch Centrum, Eindhoven, which will provide support on the clinical side. You will have access to robotic hardware and software, manufacturing facilities, and biological media and tissues.

We welcome applications from candidates with a master's degree in mechanical or electro-mechanical engineering, with a genuine passion for multidisciplinary research, affinity with medicine, the ability to work in a team and interest in collaborating with clinical partners.

The candidate must be fluent in spoken and written English.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770 max. €3,539).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.