Vacant job

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Your Responsibilities

As a PhD candidate, you will develop new bone-forming biohybrid soft materials for soft (micro-)robotics. The biohybrid materials consist of gels or other soft polymers and biological elements that autonomously shape bones. The new biohybrid materials and components enable robots to build themselves. The robots will be embedded with instructions, biosignals, to create their own parts such as bones and joints. These new biohybrid materials should be 3D printable or patterned using microfabrication methods to form patterned bone structures, that is, materials consisting of soft and hard segments, including gradients thereof. The PhD candidate will then integrate and manufacture the developed biohybrid materials and develop methods to demonstrate the self-creation of a soft micro-robot that starts as a soft material and then autonomously develops into a micro-robot.

As a PhD candidate, you will engage in your doctoral education and the research project you are part of. Your work may also include teaching or participating in other departmental duties, up to 20% of full-time.

Your Qualifications

You have a Master's degree in (organic) chemistry, mechanics, materials physics, (applied) physics, technical biology, biophysics, or related fields, or completed courses totaling at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, or acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Experience with soft materials/gels, biomaterials, 3D printing, microfabrication, soft actuators, electroactive polymers, or electrochemistry is an advantage.

You are passionate about science and technology and have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research. You thrive in teamwork with colleagues in a multicultural environment but can also work independently. You should be skilled at thinking at a system level, interested in applications, and enjoy building and testing functioning devices. You should be highly motivated, take initiative, be able to solve problems, communicative, quality-oriented, flexible, and eager to learn. You can write and speak English fluently.

A short motivation (max 1 A4) explaining why you are applying for this PhD position should be attached.

Your Workplace

The work will be carried out at the Department of Sensor and Actuator Systems under the scientific supervision of Professor Edwin Jager. The Department of Sensor and Actuator Systems conducts research as well as undergraduate and doctoral education in applied physics, in areas such as soft actuators, soft robotics, bioelectronics, biosensors, and gas and environmental sensors.

About the Employment

Upon taking up the position, you will be admitted to the doctoral program. Read more about the respective faculty's doctoral education here.

The employment is limited to four years full-time. Initially, you will be employed for one year, and thereafter the employment will be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time, based on the achieved study plan. Extension of employment up to five years may occur based on the degree of teaching and departmental duties. In special cases, further extension may occur.

Start date by agreement.

Salary and Benefits

The PhD salary is regulated according to a locally agreed salary scale. Read more about employee benefits here.

Union Contact Persons

Information about union contact persons can be found in Help for applicants.

Application

You apply for this position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must be received by Linköping University no later than April 16, 2025. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, as this enriches and develops our activities. For us, it is self-evident to uphold everyone's equal value, rights, and opportunities. Read about our work with Equal Opportunities.

Welcome with your application!

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