Job description

For the “CELL CLINIC” interdisciplinary project in collaboration with Heidelberg University, we are looking for an enthusiastic, ambitious and motivated student with interest in exploiting methods of microsystems engineering, in particular Bio-MEMS in order to address a very specific scientific question: complex screening of human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells in a microfluidic controlled environment.

The overarching goal of the “CELL CLINIC” project will be to produce a Bio-MEMS platform, the so-called “CELL CLINIC”, which will allow for both electrochemical and metabolic monitoring of human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells colonies. Electrochemical monitoring will be realized by electrodes integrated within the CELL CLINIC, while metabolic monitoring will be achieved by integrating miniaturized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detectors within the CELL CLINIC.

The specific tasks within the project will be: (i) design and fabricate electrode arrays within a microfluidic environment for electrochemical monitoring of hiPS cell colonies; (ii) be involved, together with the partners from Heidelberg Univ., in hiPS cell colonies testing; (iii) integrate the CELL CLINIC with miniaturized NMR sensing capabilities. During the Master thesis, you will get hands-on experience on microcluidics design, cleanroom fabrication, micro-structural characterization, hiPS cells characterization, having the opportunity to get exposure to a wide range of instruments and techniques.

You will be integrated in the larger team of the Spin & Photon Applications (SPA-) Laboratory. Within this project, you will use the infrastructure existent at the Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), i.e., microfabrication facilities and micro-characterization equipment. This is a complete project, offering the possibility to fabricate and test the devices, giving you the opportunity to co-author conference and/or journal publications.

Figure 1. Example of a microfluidic device with integrated electrodes and NMR micro-sensors, ready to use in a high field NMR spectrometer [H. Davoodi et al., An NMR-compatible microfluidic platform enabling in situ electrochemistry, Lab Chip, 2020, 20, 3202].

Starting date: by appointment

Contract duration: 6-9 months

Qualification:

• good academic record (marks); curious about various aspects of science;
• enthusiastic to work in a multidisciplinary environment;
• independent thinker and team player;
• in particular: strong interest microsystems technologies, biology, medical applications;
• knowledge in microsystems/microfabrication is desirable.

Job Profile and online apply

Dr. Vlad Badilita
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Institute of Microstructure Technology
P.O. Box 3640
76021 Karlsruhe

phone: +49 721 608-29315
e-mail: vlad badilita ∂does-not-exist.kit edu