PhD Position Monitoring and Control of Bench-scale CHO Cell Culture

Job description

In this PhD project you will working on developing and employing real-time monitoring and automated control of process flows in bench-scale CHO cell cultures for monoclonal antibody (mAb) production. You will be responsible for developing models to monitor key analytes in a biopharmaceutical process, including nutrients and product quality attributes. This means you will dive into process development for a standardized cell line and work on robust and transferable PAT monitoring models. Moreover, you will aim to use the real-time data to design strategies that allow you to (automatically) steer the process towards optimized productivity while maintaining product quality. This project includes wet lab (process development, data acquisition) and dry lab activities (spectroscopy-based model building, control).

Research group

The Klijn lab works on the implementation of real-time analytics in bioprocesses to faciliate automated monitoring and control strategies. We work on a broad range of processes, from microbial to mammalian, and we use a variety of process analytical techniques.

Job requirements
We are looking for an outstanding and creative researcher with a strong affinity to work at the boundary of multiple disciplines, namely bioprocessing engineering, multivariate data analysis, and automated control. This includes the internal motivation to expand your horizon, ablilty to learn quickly, and strong communication skills to easily connect with other experts in and outside the research group.

Required educational backgroud

• A MSc degree in biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, biochemical engineering, or a closely related discipline

We expect the candidate to have recent experience with:

• Running bioreactor-based mammalian cell culture processes (i.e., CHO, HEK, Vero)
• Using standard (bio)chemical analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, bioanalyzer, cell counters)

This experience could be in the form of your current position, a MSc thesis project, or a MSc internship.

Skills that are considered a big plus:

• Programming for data analysis and/or modelling of bioprocesses (e.g., R, Python, Matlab)
• Multivariate data analysis, chemometrics, and/or machine learning

Sought-after transferable skills

• Pro-active and problem solving mindset
• Excellent written and spoken English skills
• Ability to break-down and communicate complex research data
• Thrives in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary, and highly collaborative environment

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information
For more information about this position and/or project, please contact dr.ir. Marieke Klijn, per e-mail: M.E.Klijn@tudelft.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, please contact our management assistant, Kawieta Ramautar, per email: K.G.Ramautar@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 8 April 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• max. 2-page CV
• max. 1-page motivation letter

If your application package does not include these items or does not adhere to the mentioned format, we will not take your application under consideration. Reference checks are part of the selection process.

The application procedure may include an informal video call to talk about the motivation to apply for this position, before the formal interview with a larger committee. The formal interview dates will be scheduled in the beginning of April. Please keep this information in mind when applying. The envisioned starting date is June/July 2026.

You can address your application to dr.ir. Marieke Klijn.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.