Postdoc material-driven tissue integration for vascular applications

The project entails developing a novel biointerface for vascular stents that promote tissue integration via cell proliferation and modulated cell adhesion without the induction of abberant tissue responses such as fibrosis. Together with the department of surgery, focusing on vascular surgery, we aim to to ulitse high-throughput biomaterial screening to identify the optimal physicochemical surface properties to enhance vascular tissue stimulation. The findings will be translated to an actual Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) device and tested in vivo. The project has a high clinical translational character where pre-clinical, clinical and industrial partners closely work together.

The position requires knowledge across disciplines of chemistry, cell biology, and physicochemical analysis and surface characterization and should have a PhD degree in related areas. Focus will be on physical chemistry of interfaces and tissue integration with a strong engineering and clinical translational character. Knowledge and experience with surface chemistry and characterization, cell biology, and imaging approaches such as SEM, and Fluorescence Microscopy (Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy) is required. It is desired to have cell biological expertise both theoretical and practical with preferably affinity to the blood-brain-barrier. The person we seek is highly motivated and able to work in between departments of various expertise and has affinity to clinical translation and working with companies. Excellent writing and communication skills are required as well as reporting skills for preparation of progress reports for the partners and funding agency.

We offer a position for 1 year for 36 hours a week, with a possibility to 1 year extension (total 2 years). The starting salary is dependent on your qualifications and relevant experience in scale 10 (between € 4.313,-- and € 5.669,-- gross salary based on a full-time position). Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus.The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

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Information about BBT
Information about Surgey
Information about Groningen

Your application
Full applications including resume and a motivation letter, including two contacts of reference including phone number & email address. The top candidates will be selected for an online interview.

At the department of Biomaterials & Biomedical Technology (BBT) at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) research focuses on the advancement of human health care from diagnosis to treatment. The mission of BBT is to conduct research and to provide training on the application of engineering and biomaterials in the human body. Our focus is on pre-clinical research, as well as clinically-oriented research and education conducted in collaboration with clinical departments and industry. We aim to restore function in patients with irreversible loss of function, which cannot be achieved by natural bodily processes, using biomaterials, or to prevent potential loss of function by developing improved diagnostic methods, imaging techniques and robotic surgery. BBT is part of the central UMCG campus in the vibrant university city Groningen, in the North of the Netherlands and offers a highly international environment with more than half of the employees being non-Dutch.

We are currently looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a European funded project on “material-driven tissue integration for vascular applications”.