Project description:
The project will involve engineering innovative electrical and mechanical systems to effectively load cells into the Organ-Disc platform and drive media perfusion at precise flowrates to maintain live cell culture on-disc.
The thesis will take place at NMI Reutlingen. The NMI is a member of the Innovation Alliance Baden-Württemberg. It is involved in application-oriented research at the interface between the life sciences and material science. An interdisciplinary team of scientists is developing new technologies for companies and public research sponsors in the areas of Pharma and Biotech, Biomedicine and Materials Science, and Material Analysis and Electron Microscopy.
Your Tasks:
- Development and coding of electrical actuation systems to generate variable centrifugal forces upon media flow and cells
- Establishment of protocols for consistent cell loading and media perfusion in the Organ-Disc
- Engineer systems to maintain constant rotational perfusion of media over multi-day experiments
Desirable skills of the candidate:
- Currently enrolled in a Master´s degree in Engineering: Mechatronics, Medical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar.
- Experience with 3D design software (i.e. SolidWorks, Fusion 360).
- Electronics development and circuit design (e.g. KiCAD, Autodesk EAGLE)
- Basic skills in programming microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry PI)
- Integration of components, 3D Printing (slicing software, using filament/ resin printers)
- Practical skills: soldering, lab equipment (i.e. oscilloscope, signal generator, power supplies)
- Basic sterile 2D cell culture and chip-culture.
- Attention to detail, documentation and good organizational skills.
- Independent working style and pro-active.
- Experience in COMSOL, CAM systems/CNC milling, and/or cell culture/microscopy is an advantage.
We offer:
- Working within an exciting multidisciplinary project and a highly innovative research topic.
- Highly motivated, competent and multidisciplinary team with scientific and technical staff.
- An exciting and dynamic working environment in an application-oriented research institute
- Excellent infrastructure and technical laboratory equipment.
To apply, please click here!
In case you have any questions please contact Caroline Culp (caroline.culp@nmi.de).
