Project background: The most commonly used therapy for symptomatic coronary artery disease is the implantation of drug eluting stents. These stents restore blood flow well, but improvements are still needed. These improvements, from new medicines to better medication carriers (coatings), are usually first studied for safety and efficacy in an animal. Alternative animal-free experimental models are developed in a collaborative project between Erasmus Medical Center, the Delft University of Technology and the Eindhoven-based medical technology company LifeTec Group. We aim not only to replace or reduce the use of research animals, but also to make the models faster and better.

Project goal and description

The goal of this project is to develop to innovative, animal-free, experimental models and use them to study vascular healing and disease progression. More specifically, we aim to study transport processes in the diseased arterial wall. One of these models is based on organ-on-a-chip technology, the other on arterial culture models. Your main work will consist of the fabrication of chips and hydrogels, performing cell and organ culture, drug, cell and intravascular imaging, and interpretation of the experimental data using mathematical modeling.  

We are looking for a PhD student with interest in the development and validation of novel animal free models for studying the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug eluting stent placement. Our McGyver / Abby Sciuto has an interest in cell culture, organ-on-a-chip, pharmacokinetics and transport phenomena, local drug delivery, mass spectrometry imaging, and hydrogel engineering, and an MSc degree in biomedical engineering, (bio)pharmaceutical sciences, technical- or bio-medical sciences, chemical engineering or biotechnology. Do you have excellent lab skills, a love to develop new technology, and are you curious, self-driven and not afraid to take initiative, you could be our candidate.  

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

You will be appointed at Erasmus MC. The terms of employment are according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Dutch University Medical Centers (CAO UMC).

For more information about this vacancy, you can contact: Heleen van Beusekom, PI of the project, phone number: 010 7044048 or e-mail: h.vanbeusekom@erasmusmc.nl or Volkert van Steijn, PI TU Delft, tel.nr. 015 27 87194 or e-mail: v.vansteijn@tudelft.nl.

Please send your a letter of motivation, a recent CV, official transcript of the Bachelors and Masters education to Heleen van Beusekom, e-mail: h.vanbeusekom@erasmusmc.nl and PPE secretary Elly Hilkhuijsen, e-mail: p.c.m.hilkhuijsen@tudelft.nl.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

https://www.tudelft.nl

Faculty Applied Sciences

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,800 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Applied Physics.

The Department of Chemical Engineering (www.cheme.tudelft.nl) promotes the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge in chemical engineering, with a focus on materials for energy and health applications. We aspire to improve the quality of life in a sustainable society through discovery and innovation, the quality of life of our graduates through inspiration and teaching, and the quality of life of our peers through collaboration and exchange. With a proud heritage in chemical engineering, the department seeks to break new ground in areas where molecular understanding and engineering design meet.        

Erasmus MC (www.erasmusmc.nl) stands for a healthy population and excellence in healthcare. By conducting groundbreaking work, we aim to push boundaries through leading the way in research, education and healthcare. We have access to the latest equipment and techniques in a state-of-the-art environment.

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/faculty-of-applied-sciences