PhD position "Synthetic Matter: Unravelling 3D Space Dynamics

Job description

The project focuses on the experimental realization and study of artificial microswimmers/microrobots that can move and interact autonomously in 3D environments, mimicking the complex dynamics of microorganisms in fluids.

Living systems such as bacteria or algae exhibit remarkable capabilities: they swim, adapt, interact, and self-organize into dynamic patterns. Understanding and replicating these life-like dynamics in synthetic systems remains a major challenge across physics, chemistry, biophysics, and materials science.

In this PhD project, you will:

§ Develop an experimental platform to study 3D self-organization of active particles.

§ Fabricate and characterize light-driven microswimmers.

§ Use advanced optical microscopy and particle tracking to analyze their motion and interactions.
Investigate emergent behaviors such as swarming, clustering, and collective navigation in confined and complex environments.

The project will build on an interdisciplinary approach, combining concepts and methods from physics, chemistry, and mathematical modelling.

The long-term goal is to derive design principles for constructing smart, adaptive microsystems, potentially useful for targeted drug delivery, cargo transport, biosensing, microfluidic mixing, or self-healing materials.

The successful candidate will join the Active Soft Matter Lab within the TNW Faculty, the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. This position offers ample opportunities for collaboration and interaction with various academic and industrial partners. You will work in a dynamic, highly interdisciplinary environment, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to further the understanding and applications of microswimmers.

Starting Date: 1st October 2026 (but negotiable).

References:

1. Shelke, et al;
Science 392, 202–203 (2026). Science, 2026. Featured on the Cover-Page
2. S. van der Ham,

A.

F. V. Matias, M. Dijkstra, and H. R. Vutukuri, “Dynamic bidirectional coupling of membrane morphology and rod organization in flexible vesicles, “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 123, e (2026)
3. T. Sunkesula Raghavendra, Y. Shelke, S. van Ham,

A. Nair S, and H. R. Vutukuri, “Programmable persistent random walks in active Brownian particles govern emergent dynamics, “Communications Physics 9, 166 (2026)
4. Vutukuri, et al.,
Nature
,
586
, 52, 2020. Active particles induce large shape deformations in giant lipid vesicles
5. Vutukuri, et al.,
Nat. Communi
,
11
,2686, 2020. Light-switchable propulsion of active particles with reversible interactions
6. Susana, et al.,
Nat. Communi
,
14
,7896, 2023. A colloidal viewpoint on the sausage catastrophe and the finite spherepackingproblem

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate who meets the following criteria:

• Educational Background
  :

A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in (
Applied)
Physics, Chemistry, Biophysics
, or a related field at the interface between Physics and Chemistry
. Candidates with an MSc in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering are also welcome to apply, particularly if their thesis work involved soft matter
.

• Experimental Skills (preferred but not mandatory):

Prior experience with experimental techniques
, especially in optical microscopy and colloidal particle synthesis
, is considered a strong asset.

• Programming and Data Analysis
  :

Working knowledge or hands-on experience with Python
, ImageJ
, and/or MATLAB is highly beneficial for image processing and data analysis.

• Communication
  :

Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English are essential for effective collaboration and dissemination of research findings.

• A full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year.
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 3.059,- (first year) to € 3.881,- (fourth year).
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• A minimum of 232…