stillingsbetegnelse:
1 PhD and 1 Postdoc position: Low-cost Plastic Chip for Optomagnetic Detection of Antibiotic Resistance in Tuberculosis

jobbeskrivelse:
The Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology (DTU Nanotech) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) invites applications for one PhD and one postdoctoral fellowship position to develop and integrate a low-cost plastic chip for detection of antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis. The PhD and postdoctoral positions will be filled with the best combination of PhD/postdoctoral candidates. Candidates for both positions should demonstrate excellent communication and language skills, a strong drive to obtain results and the ability to work in a highly cross-disciplinary environment. Candidates for the postdoctoral position are further expected to have a proven track of publishing and the ability to generate, plan and execute new ideas. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in international collaborations and in supervision of students. Background Tuberculosis is a major public health problem and is a significant obstacle to economic growth and social stability in the world causing 1.5 million deaths annually. While the cost of first-line drugs treatment has decreased dramatically, the cost of laboratory monitoring still represents a barrier for effective tuberculosis diagnostics. We aim at joining key competences on capillary driven microfluidics, molecular diagnostics and magnetic nanotechnology-based biosensing to design and shape a novel technology for next generation point-of-care diagnostics. The overall project goals are to simplify, implement and automate an existing laboratory isothermal molecular amplification strategy based on so-called padlock probe recognition and rolling circle amplification on a low-cost injection moulded plastic chip platform where the readout of the amplification products is performed using a new optomagnetic technique, which is being commercialized in the start-up company BluSense Diagnostics. The project will take place in collaboration with experts in the molecular amplification approach at Stockholm University and BluSense Diagnostics. External stays at Stockholm University for periods of a few months are expected for both positions during the project. Responsibilities and tasks The topic of Position 1 is to cover physical aspects of the chip, setup and the readout and to work in close collaboration with others on the assay implementation. In more detail, the work includes (1) the design, fabrication and testing of injection moulded plastic chips with capillary liquid handling, (2) the construction and testing of a setup with temperature control, magnetic bead-based sample handling and optomagnetic readout, (3) automation of setup and data analysis. The work will further include close collaboration with others on optimization of the optomagnetic readout technique to further reduce the limit of detection. The topic of Position 2 is to cover the biochemical and assay related aspects of the device development. These involve (1) optimization of the optomagnetic readout technique, (2) simplification of existing assay procedures to facilitate transfer to chip system, (3) implementation of assay on chip platform, (4) benchmarking of assay for synthetic samples and study on DNA isolates from clinical samples. Qualifications The successful applicant for Position 1 will have a strong background in experimental physics combined with insight into the theoretical aspects of the position (microfluidics, electromagnetism) and a flair for setup construction. The ideal candidate has experience in microfluidics and injection moulding as well as the construction, application and automation of lab-on-a-chip systems. The candidate should have a strong interest to work together with biochemists and to be part of a multidisciplinary, self-driven team. The candidate will have a high motivation for research, evidence of solid written and oral communication skills. At the time of appointment, the candidate should have a background (MSc/PhD degree) in engineering, physics or related disciplines. The succ

Arbejdsgiver Navn: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet

Arbejdsgiver telefonnummer: 45252525

Arbejdsgiver faxnummer: 45881799

Job kort beskrivelse:
Undervisning og forskning på universiteter og højere læreranstalter

land: Danmark

region: Hovedstaden

krævede uddannelse: Ikke angivet

Kilde til jobtilbud: AMS, Offentlige arbejdsformidlinger, Danmark