Postdoctoral Researcher Biofabrication & Biomaterials Engineering

We are looking for ambitious and motivated candidates to help push organoid/tubuloid-based kidney models into a scalable, high-performance organoid-on-chip format. The core idea is to print structures that give cells a lot more functional surface area, while developing a blood-facing surface chemistry that stays hemocompatible. We are looking for someone who can bridge materials, fabrication and biology using our state-of-the-art facilities.

The main challenge is that our current kidney module concept does not naturally scale to larger surface areas. We need printable, bio-instructive substrates that reliably support cell adhesion, polarisation and long-term transporter function under flow on the epithelial side, while the opposing surface remains hemocompatible. This is an open materials/bio-interface/(bio)engineering problem, and it sits right at the intersection of biomaterials chemistry, surface engineering, and biofabrication.

Your role
In this position you will develop and iterate the full stack: materials chemistry, printing strategy, and device architecture, working closely with colleagues on tubuloid biology and organ-on-chip readouts. Typical directions can include any of the following typics: 1) designing biomaterial formulations that print cleanly and support tubuloid attachment and polarization, 2) creating compartmentalized or asymmetric interfaces (cell-instructive versus hemocompatible), 3) building high surface-to-volume geometries (porous/fibrous scaffolds, microstructured membranes, folded/stacked designs, microchannel networks), 4) exploring hybrid vasculature concepts where perfusable channels and epithelial modules can be integrated without compromising either side.

We’re intentionally not looking for one narrow “perfect” background. The common denominator is that you can operate across advanced biofabrication and biomaterials engineering, and you enjoy solving interface problems that don’t have an off-the-shelf answer.

What to expect
What you can expect from us: access to new multimaterial biofabrication hardware and fast iteration cycles; an interdisciplinary environment with direct links to tubuloid/organoid expertise; and a project where success is measurable (surface area scaling, stable function under flow, and reproducible manufacturing).

• A PhD in a relevant area; biomaterials, polymer/soft-matter chemistry, chemical/biomedical engineering, biofabrication, or similar.
• Demonstrated experience with translating biomaterial formulations into reproducible constructs (e.g., lithographic printing, molding/casting, microfabrication, electrospinning, or 3D printing), including optimization of formulations and processing parameters.
• Comfort working at bio-interfaces: cell–material interactions, surface modification, anti-fouling/hemocompatibility concepts, or adjacent topics.
• A collaborative working style; this project lives at the chemistry–engineering–biology boundary.
• Nice-to-haves (not required): experience with photopolymer chemistry and curing kinetics and coatings; microfluidic device constraints; membrane/scaffold design for transport; blood–material testing or an interest in learning it.

How to apply
To apply, send a CV and a short motivation letter (one page is enough) describing what you would tackle first in this project and why. Include contact details for two references (or indicate that you will provide them later).

The maximum salary for this position (36 - 36 hours) is € 3.598,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

The Nephrology department is part of the Internal Medicine and Dermatology Division with approximately one thousand employees. The division focuses on care, research, education and training. The specialty of nephrology is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of (chronic) kidney diseases. The department consists of an outpatient clinic, a day treatment department, a dialysis department, a nursing department and a research laboratory.

Our team consists of staff doctors, dialysis nurses, AIOS, nurse specialists, a physician assistant, transplant nurses, social workers, dieticians, medical secretaries, management assistants and researchers.

Contact our colleague:
Karin Gerritsen
088 75 573 29
k.g.f.gerritsen@umcutrecht.nl