PhD Candidate in MIP-Based Sensor Engineering for Antimicrobial Resistance Detection

Welcome to Maastricht University!
The world is changing fast, and we’re changing with it. At Maastricht University, your work makes a real difference – whether you’re exploring the future through research, inspiring students in the classroom, or helping to shape everything that makes our education and research possible.

PhD Candidate in MIP-Based Sensor Engineering for Antimicrobial Resistance Detection

• Our goal: Develop next-generation point-of-care devices for fast and reliable antimicrobial resistance detection.
• Your colleagues: An interdisciplinary team of chemists, engineers, and biomedical researchers within the Sensor Engineering Department at the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), working together on innovative sensor solutions for global challenges in health and diagnostics.

About the position
As a PhD candidate, you will develop a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based sensor for detecting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogens that threaten human health. Acting as artificial antibodies, MIPs have molecule-specific binding sites formed during synthesis, enabling selective detection of antibiotics and other biomarkers.

Building on the department’s pioneering work, you will design, synthesize, and test MIPs, integrate them into a point-of-care (POC) device, and validate their performance on real-world AMR samples. The ultimate goal: a functional prototype that supports faster, more accessible diagnostics and helps limit the spread of drug-resistant infections.

This project is part of a multidisciplinary research initiative at the Sensor Engineering Department, supervised by Dr. Bart van Grinsven, Dr. Valerii Myndrul, and Kelly Erven. You will collaborate with experts from chemistry, biomedical engineering, and materials science, combining fundamental research with real-world application.

In this role, you will:

• Design and execute experiments on MIP synthesis and sensor assembly.
• Develop and benchmark optical and electrochemical readouts for AMR detection.
• Build and test lateral flow assay (LFA) prototypes using 3D printing.
• Analyse data and interpret experimental results.
• Publish your findings and present them at international conferences.
• Contribute to teaching and mentoring activities within the department.

Are you ready to shape the future of medical diagnostics? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring
It’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about your curiosity, creativity, and commitment to making an impact. Do you recognise yourself in this?

• Scientifically driven. You hold a Master’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Curious and hands-on. You have experience with laboratory experimentation, preferably in molecular imprinting, sensor engineering, or materials synthesis.
• Interdisciplinary thinker. You’re excited to work across fields like chemistry, biomedical engineering, and microfabrication.
• Analytical and inventive. You enjoy exploring new methods and translating them into practical sensor designs.
• Collaborative by nature. You thrive in a diverse, international research environment.
• Communicative and precise. You can clearly express your ideas in English, both in writing and speaking (minimum B2 level).
• Plus points. Experience with lateral flow assays, electrochemical or optical sensing, or a valid EU driver’s licence (B).

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 12-month contract with the prospect of a three-year extension upon positive evaluation.
• A gross monthly salary between €3,059.00 and €3,881.00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week).
• 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), plus four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day).
• The option to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home, with commuting and internet allowances.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness options, and access to extensive UM sports facilities.
• A dynamic research community where collaboration and personal growth go hand in hand.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

Faculty of Science and Engineering
At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development. FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention. The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

About the Sensor Engineering Department
At the Sensor Engineering Department, we design and develop smart sensors and analytical systems for applications in health, environment, and food. Our multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in chemistry, engineering, and biomedical sciences to create real-world solutions that improve lives. We value curiosity, collaboration, and innovation – and we welcome researchers who are eager to explore new frontiers in sensing technologies.

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,000 students and 5,000 employees across five regional locations, six faculties, and more than seventy research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities – for yourself and for the world around you. Because real answers are found together.

Curious?
Would you like to know more about this position? Feel free to contact Dr. Bart van Grinsven, Dr. Valerii Myndrul, or Kelly Erven at:
bart.vangrinsven@maastrichtuniversity.nl
valerii.myndrul@maastrichtuniversity.nl
kelly.erven@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Applying?
Apply now – no later than February 15, 2026 – by submitting your CV, motivation letter, and contact details of two referees via the button below.
We look forward to getting to know you!

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.