Postdoctoral fellowship in ultrasensitive nano(bio)sensing

at  Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

JOUW FUNCTIE

Drug formulations are increasingly composed of so-called “nanodrugs”, precisely controlled containers that target-specifically deliver complex molecules such as DNAs or RNAs. Surprisingly, much-needed nano characterization platforms that rapidly, quantitatively and accurately asses the quality of such formulations are still lacking. Routine observations are often based on costly options such as TEM or analytical ultracentrifugation.
During this 30 months postdoctoral fellowship, you will develop an all-optical and label-free single particle sizing platform that rapidly measures thousands of individual nanoparticles in parallel. The clear and ambitious goal is to provide a technology that covers the full range of nanodrugs: from tiny viral vectors, over bacteriophages to larger liposomes. You will provide what is needed: size, mass, loading ratios e.g. a full characterization of these crucial system based on all-optical single particle observations.
Beyond accurately determining particle sizes and drug-loading ratios you will develop next-generation methods that directly quantify the biomolecular composition. The envisioned strategy is novel which ensures that you will have the chance to establish a highly innovative sensing-portfolio that should allow applying for competitive funding beyond this appointment.

With the support of our interdisciplinary team, you will lead this ambitious project and:

• Develop high-throughput nanosizing methods at the ultimate levels of sensitivity and accuracy
• Apply these platforms to prominent nanometric drug vectors
• Help transitioning our technology into a widely applicable and usable platform
• Explore and implement biomolecularly resolved nanosizing technologies

Please refer the Job description for details