PhD Position: Self-Assembling Interactive Hydrogel Actuators with Adaptive Stimuli-Transduction Pathways

Do you want to build hydrogels that interact with their environment and self-optimise to particular tasks? Do you enjoy exploring systems chemistry, reaction networks and self-assembly in out-of-equilibrium matter and smart materials? Then come and join our team as a PhD candidate!

Materials that spontaneously ’morph their structure and optimise themselves to particular functions will open entirely new possibilities in adaptive materials or soft robotics. Imagine interactive hydrogels that self-assemble from a ’’design-less’ state and can get their morphology optimised to perform targeted mechanical operations upon swelling and contraction – in analogy to muscles.

This PhD project aims to develop a unique chemistry-based strategy to build interactive actuators based on electro-responsive hydrogels. These gels concomitantly self-assemble amongst electrodes and guide the control mechanisms that in turn direct their growth and actuation. As the self-assembly of the hydrogels is reversible, the input voltages (+/–) applied to the electrodes can be optimised in a machine-learning approach to optimise the gel morphology and the embedded stimuli-transduction pathways towards the targeted mechanical behaviour. Departing from classical hydrogels that simply swell or contract, far more complex spatiotemporal actuation routines will be established, emerging from the transient formation of redox-chemistry based cross-links, electro-responsive assemblies that provide conductive pathways to transfer the input voltages to the hydrogel growth/actuation front, and feedback mechanisms based on chemical reaction networks and supramolecular assemblies.

This research combines hydrogels with systems chemistry – i.e. reaction networks, self-assembly – in mesoscale structures and out-of-equilibrium matter, and involves working with dedicated microscopy techniques and custom-made multi-electrode set-ups. You will communicate your findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences, and also be involved in training and teaching BSc and MSc students. Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your appointment.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

You will be part of the Life-like Materials research group and work with Dr Peter Korevaar. Our group is dedicated to build chemical systems that self-organize at the mesoscale, and your project will benefit from our experience with hydrogel actuators, surfactant assembly and assemblies controlled by electrochemistry. Our group is embedded in the Physical-Organic Chemistry department at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands), and part of the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM). Our labs are housed in the Huygens building and equipped with state-of-the-art instruments to conduct top-notch research in the field of active matter, molecular self-assembly and dynamic materials.

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Dr Peter Korevaar. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

Applications will be reviewed, and interviews scheduled during the recruitment period. Therefore, you will receive feedback and information about a possible follow-up process shortly. If a suitable candidate is found before the closing date, the vacancy will be closed, and further applications will no longer be possible. Feel free to contact the listed contact person for the latest status.

You will preferably start your employment on 1 October 2025.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.