PhD on Nanoswitches for Continuous Nucleic Acid Monitoring
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands
- Institution
- Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
- Country
- Netherlands
- Position type
- PhD
- Application deadline
- 11 October 2026
- Funding
- Fully funded position
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About this position
Job description
Information
Nanoswitch sensors are nanometer-scale constructs that change their configuration upon molecular binding and enable the continuous monitoring of biomolecules. In this PhD project, you will explore a novel direction: you will study how nanoswitch sensors can be designed for the continuous monitoring of complex nucleic-acids with dynamic secondary structures, such as virus-like particles and plasmids.
In your PhD project, you will study nanoswitches in a particle-based sensing platform with single-molecule resolution, called Biosensing by Particle Motion. The project includes nanoswitch design, sensor fabrication, sensor testing, and modelling. The longterm goal is to enable multiplexed continuous real-time sensing for applications in advanced bio-manufacturing.
The continuous sensing technologies studied in the Molecular Biosensing group at TU/e (see www.tue.nl/mbx) exploit reversible single-molecule interactions, a concept that is at the forefront of science. The PhD project benefits from ongoing collaborations with research institutes, academic hospitals, and bioprocessing companies. Publications about the BPM sensing technology are listed on https://www.heliabiomonitoring.com/publications.
The research group integrates laboratory-based and computational approaches for advancing sensor technology and bioengineering. Research is done in close collaboration with the Protein Engineering research group (https://merkxlab.nl/) and the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (www.tue.nl/icms). The research group initiated and organizes the international competition on Sensors for Health (www.sensus.org) and the international symposium on Continuous Real-time Biomolecular Sensing (https://symposium.sensus.org).
Apply directly to Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
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Go to the official application page →Applications close 11 October 2026.