PhD Position Biomaterial Sciences Transcutaneous, Needle-Free Vascular Access for Hemodialysis

PhD Position Biomaterial Sciences Transcutaneous, Needle-Free Vascular Access for Hemodialysis

Help build a needle‑free future for dialysis patients. Join TU Delft and LUMC to develop a transcutaneous vascular access, uniting biomaterials, medical technology and clinical nephrology.

Fundamental biomedical research and clinical impact come together in this four‑year PhD project within the TRANSPORT programme. As a PhD candidate, you will work on the development of an innovative, transcutaneous and needle‑free vascular access for hemodialysis. The project is a collaboration between Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), closely linking advanced biomaterials, medical technology and clinical nephrology.

• Design and optimise a transcutaneous vascular access port
• Develop and test biomaterials and surface coatings with a focus on hemocompatibility
• Perform in vitro experiments on thrombogenicity and biofilm formation under flow conditions
• Analyse, interpret and publish research results in international scientific journals

You will be appointed at TU Delft and work within a research group with strong expertise in vascular access, large animal models and clinical translation. At the same time, you will be scientifically embedded in research groups at TU Delft focusing on biomaterials and additive manufacturing. This collaboration offers a unique environment where fundamental technology development is directly connected to clinical application.

• A completed MSc degree in Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Technology, Biomedical Sciences or a closely related field
• Affinity with biomaterials, medical devices and translational research
• Interest in experimental research and data analysis
• Good communication skills in English, both written and oral
• A critical and independent working attitude

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high‑quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep‑rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high‑tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state‑of‑the‑art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well‑being.

That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter) national cooperation.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4‑year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5…