Within the frame of the Cluster of Excellence 3D Matter Made to Order (3DMM2O), the Blasco group focus on the development of new polymer-based functional materials with application in 4D microprinting. The additional fourth dimension refers to the ability of the printed materials to change its properties, such as shape or functionality, over time. Adaptability is a key feature for the applications in life sciences. Dynamic systems that can be adapted and interact with the cells are highly desired in order to mimic the 3D cellular environment in living organisms.

The group is seeking a highly motivated doctoral researcher with a strong interest in polymer chemistry, photochemistry as well as 3D printing. The aim of the project is the development of new adaptive multi-responsive printable biomaterials that can be applied as smart scaffolds for cells. A crucial requirement for the selection of materials and stimuli will be biocompatibility.

The doctoral researcher will work in an interdisciplinary and international environment with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at the Centre for Advanced Materials (CAM) at Heidelberg University.

Requirements

• Degree in chemistry or material science
• Background in synthetic organic, photochemistry and/or polymer chemistry
• Experience in 3D printing is advantageous
• Good level of English (oral and written) is essential

The integration of printed electronic devices in miniaturized complex hybrid electronic systems will require the design of 3D device architectures at the microscale. Furthermore, novel 3D printing techniques can enable the integration of optoelectronic devices onto 3D structured functional materials. The project consists in fabricating and characterizing thin film electronic devices through printing technology on the basis of functional materials that combine digital processability with optoelectronic and sensing functionalities.

Requirements

• Degree in Engineering, Material Science, Physics or Chemistry
• Excellent Academic Record
• Experience in thin film characterization or solution process fabrication of optoelectronic devices is desirable
• Excellent verbal and written English proficiency is a requirement
• Experience with printing technology and patterning techniques is a plus

Cells respond actively to the mechanical properties of their surroundings and can apply forces to shape the structure of their environment. The goal of this project is to investigate methods to achieve structurally and mechanically adaptive structures at the micrometer scale. The key method of this interdisciplinary project will be direct laser writing, but also investigations with electron microscopy, mechanical testing, cells experiments and confocal microscopy will be included. 

Requirements

• Master degree (or equivalent), ideally in (bio)physics, (bio)materials science, but we are also open for applications from related disciplines
• Interest and experience in working in an interdisciplinary research field
• Creativity and ideas for new and unconventional solutions
• Very good English language skills, very good communication skills
• Strong (self-)motivation, commitment, ability to work independently as well as in a team

Within the framework of the Cluster of Excellence 3D Matter Made to Order in the experimental research group of Prof. Dr. Petra Tegeder at the Physical Chemistry Institute, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, a doctoral position is available. Using Infrared scanning near-field optical microscopy (IR-s-SNOM) 3D materials such as functionalized surface-mounted metal-organic frameworks (SURMOFs) or polymer blends for 3D laser printing are investigated to gain detailed insights into structural properties. IR-s-SNOM allows to monitor a particular vibrational mode (spectroscopy modus) or to create chemical maps (microscopy modus) both with a lateral resolution of around 10 nm. For this project a novel IR-s-SNOM-setup is existing. 

Requirements

• Master Sc. in physics, chemistry or material science 
• Strong interest in condensed matter physics, light-matter interactions and material science
• Enthusiasm to work independently in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment 

The goal of the thesis is to translate the idea of two-step absorption, which has recently emerged for one particular resist system and which uses compact inexpensive continuous-wave laser diodes, to other resist systems, e.g., to aqueous conditions for applications in the life sciences.

Requirements

Ideally, you have a background in physics, chemistry, optics, polymer science, nanoscience, or materials science. 

A strong advantage of direct laser writing compared to extrusion printing is that light reaches inside transparent material. The aim of this interdisciplinary project is to investigate novel concepts for writing 3D structures in the presence of cells, particularly inside cells. Challenges will not only be limited to direct laser writing in complex materials, but also include aspects of biocompatibility, chemistry, and materials science. 

Requirements

• Master degree (or equivalent) and doctoral degree in (bio)physics, (bio)materials science, or in related disciplines
• Experience with 3D printing is of advantage
• Experience with organizing and conducting research projects and scientific publications
• Interest to work in a highly interdisciplinary research field  
• Creativity and ideas for new and unconventional solutions 
• Very good English language skills, very good communication skills
• Strong (self-)motivation, commitment, ability to work independently as well as in a team

You will be responsible for developing and validating multiscale models to describe the growth, structure and electronic properties of soft matter, as well as their interaction with small molecules and biomolecules, in particular polymers for 3D printing and metal-organic frameworks crosslinkers. Mainly you will be involved in molecular dynamics simulations using coarse-grained and all-atom models to understand and predict various properties of polymer materials at the nanoscale.  Specifically, this involves issues of e.g. exploring the effects of quenchers on the processing accuracy of printed polymer networks: resolution vs. mechanical properties and predicting the self-assembly properties of different block copolymers, as well as layer-by-layer printing of MOFs using polymers as crosslinkers. In addition, you will support the project partners in the development and implementation of the simulations for these projects.

The methods will be applied to current issues in multimaterial 3D printing and help experimentalists to predict the self-assembly properties of different block co-polymers and to model their internal structures, in cooperation with materials science research groups at KIT and international/national initiatives and published in international journals. Document the results through publications and presentations on conferences and workshops.

The staff member is expected to support KIT in the application and implementation of new European/national projects in multimaterial 3D printing and MOFs. This applies in particular with respect to the acquisition and implementation of third-party funded projects.

Requirements

You have a doctoral degree and documented interest and experience in physics or chemistry or material sciences. Professional experience in theoretical physics and simulation methods, as well as good knowledge in the development and application of methods for calculating the structure and electronic properties of soft matter and its molecular mechanics are required. In addition, you have experience with complex simulations and simulation environments as well as programming experience (preferably python).

The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary environment with engineers, physicists, chemists and material scientists to investigate and seek solutions for additively manufactured electronic devices such as electrolyte-gated transistors, memristors and other active and passive devices to explore novel sensor concepts and integrated circuits, which can be used for bioelectronics or neuromorphic computing applications.

Requirements

We are seeking candidates with a background in either physics, electrical engineering or material science as a first degree and the motivation to realize functional hardware based on thin film additive manufacturing processes. A thorough understanding of device physics and experience in one or more of the listed competencies will be highly beneficial for the application:

• Inkjet-printing
• Thin film deposition techniques such as sputtering, atomic layer deposition, spin coating, etc.
• Functional ink development 
• Photonic and chemical curing methods for reducing fabrication temperatures

Tasks: 

1. Development of 3-dimensional skin models using microfluidic technologies to investigate basic life science questions and medical applications; 
2. Development of 3-dimensional cell clusters using synthetic/natural hybrid systems;
3. Development of 3-dimensional metal fiber-polymer hybrid materials as sensors, actuators and electromagnetic shielding;

Requirements

Physics and/or chemistry and/or physical-chemistry and/or biotechnology and/or molecular cell biology and/or biochemistry and/or bioengineering and/or molecular systems engineering and/or polymer-materials engineering.

Workplace: Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and Stuttgart