PhD Candidate in the field of induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids

How can we guide stem cells to develop into different cell lineages by using mechanical stimulation? Join our interdisciplinary research team and contribute to developing methods for iPSC culture, 3D cell models, and stem cell differentiation within the field of complex tissue regeneration. In this PhD project, you will work at the interface of stem cell biology, biomaterials, and 3D cell culture.

PhD Candidate in the field of induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids

• Our goal: In this project, you will work on developing methods to control stem cell differentiation through mechanical stimulation, with the aim of creating improved 3D cell models and gaining new insights into stem cell biology.
• Your colleagues: You will work together with another PhD candidate and become part of the Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration (CTR) within the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine. You will join an exceptionally skilled team that is being assembled through recent European Research Council (ERC) funding secured by the department.

We offer a top-level research and academic environment with excellent opportunities for personal development. The work is highly interdisciplinary, and the atmosphere within both the group and the institute is collegial and collaborative.

What you do

As a PhD candidate, you will work on the initial framework for iPSC cell culture, maintenance, methodology, and data analysis. You will contribute to team efforts related to stem cell biology, the development of new biological assays, and 3D cell culture on 3D-printed scaffolds. The project aims to steer iPSC differentiation into different lineages through mechanical stimulation.

Within this role, you are expected to disseminate research findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences.

Research at CTR is driven by technology development for the fabrication of biological constructs. The technological bases at the department for the fabrication of such constructs are:

• Additive manufacturing technologies for building functional 3D scaffolds, such as 3D fiber deposition, bioprinting, and digital light processing.
• Advanced electrospinning technologies for generating extracellular matrix‑like fibrous meshes.
• Engineering of artificial cellular microenvironments and of in‑vitro 3D tissue and organ analogues by new biomaterial formulations (e.g. hydrogels).
• Lithography for multiscale hierarchical 3D substrates, e.g. 3D nanoimprint, 3D deep UV or 3D X‑ray lithography.
• Bottom‑up tissue engineering based on micro and nanoengineered objects as cell‑assemblable instructive microscaffolds.
• Scaffold‑free, self‑assembled 3D tissues/organ spheroids.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring
We’re not looking for check boxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

This position is well suited to highly ambitious candidates who enjoy solving problems and are comfortable working towards deadlines. You will thrive in a fast‑paced, yet friendly and collaborative international environment that offers new challenges and opportunities for growth.

Furthermore, you bring:

• M.Sc. degree in (stem cell) biology or biomedical science; a background in biomedical engineering is also possible.
• Proven experience in iPSC culture, maintenance, and characterization (including omics).
• Additional experience in iPSC culturing on different types of biomaterials in 2D and 3D is considered a strong advantage.
• Experience with additive manufacturing technologies for building functional 3D scaffolds (e.g. 3D fiber deposition, bioprinting, digital light processing).
• Experience with advanced electrospinning technologies for generating extracellular matrix‑like fibrous meshes.
• Experience with engineering artificial cellular microenvironments and in‑vitro 3D tissue and organ analogues using biomaterial formulations (e.g. hydrogels).
• Experience with lithography techniques for multiscale hierarchical 3D substrates (e.g. 3D nanoimprint, deep UV, or X‑ray lithography).
• Experience with bottom‑up tissue engineering using…