In a public-private consortium, funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRO/OP-Oost, NL) the University of Twente is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to perform research on a microfluidic de Laval nozzle as an interface between a micro gas chromatograph and a chiral mass spectrometer. Together these components will establish a unique and innovative GC-MS analysis system, with which the enantiomeric R / S composition of chiral molecules can be quickly and accurately analyzed. The postdoc will focus on the design and geometrical and functional analysis of a microfluidic de Laval nozzle, based on silicon / glass micromachining technology. A particular task of the postdoc is the interfacing and potential integration of the nozzle with the GC and/or mass spectrometer. The postdoc will be supported by a technician who will fabricate the microfluidic devices in the state of the art Nanolab cleanroom facilities of the MESA+ institute at the University of Twente. Testing of the chiral separation performance of the completed system will be performed in collaboration with the industrial and academic partners in the project.

We are hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher who can design and analyse (both theoretically as well as experimentally) dedicated microfluidic gas expansion nozzles for the novel microGC-chiral MS system. The ideal postdoc candidate has PhD degree with a solid background in (applied) physics, mechanical engineering, or similar, with proven expertise in fluid dynamics and a strong interest in working on the development of microfluidic components for gas flow applications. The postdoc should be prepared to work in close collaboration with academic groups and industrial partners which are situated at different locations in the east part of the Netherlands.  We expect the candidate to have excellent command of the English language as well as professional communication and presentation skills.

You will be appointed on a fulltime position for two years, with possible extension. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in a stimulating scientific environment. The post-doc salary is between € 3.353,- and € 4.402,- gross per month depending on experience and qualifications. The offer further involves: a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%, a solid pension scheme, a minimum of 29 holidays, and numerous professional and personal development programmes.

The MCS group MCS focuses on the design, modeling, fabrication and testing of 3-dimensional micro and nano, and has a longstanding expertise in microfluidics and microelectromechanical principles, devices and systems. A topic of interest is the influence of mesoscale phenomena on the macroscopic outcome of chemical processes, as well as the integration of micro/nanostructures and MEMS in miniaturized physical and chemical analysis units. Besides "cleanroom"-based silicon and glass fabrication methods, additive manufacturing methods like 2-photon stereolithography and electrospinning are studied to manufacture these structures and devices.