Postdoctoral Fellowship: High throughput SERS for multiplexed fingerprinting
Updated: 01 May 2024
Despite decades of innovation, SERS-based sensing platforms seldom transition from proof-of-concept, academic demonstrations to applied, market-ready products. A key bottleneck is the lack of suitable read-out methodologies, where highly sophisticated SERS sensors are analysed by confocal Raman microscopes, one spot at a time. Over the past few years, we have taken initial steps towards providing better solutions (Nature Nanotech. 15, 1005 (2020) & Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 61, e202200072 (2022)). However, a broadly-applicable turn-key solution is still lacking but could revolutionise SERS-based sensing.
During this three-year postdoctoral fellowship, you will develop a platform technology that leverages tailored SERS assays, enabled by a novel high-throughput readout technology that we will establish in parallel. With the support of our interdisciplinary team, you will lead this ambitious project and:
- Develop a barcoded SERS-sensor library
- Design SAM-based digital fingerprinting assays
- Implement a high-throughput SERS readout platform
- Benchmark and optimise the combined assay/platform technology
- Systematically demonstrate the technology's broad applicability, from anti-counterfeiting to wine analysis.
- Explore thus-far inaccessible SERS strategies enabled by our readout technology
Requirements:
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the design, synthesis and characterisation of SERS-based sensors and is familiar with Raman microscopy/spectroscopy.
- PhD degree in Chemistry, Nanotechnology, or Physics
- Experience with SERS, self-assembly/colloidal chemistry, nanophotonics, Raman spectroscopy/microscopy
- Experience with optical instrumentation, programming and hardware-software interfacing is a plus
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Excited about interdisciplinary research as part of multidisciplinary and diverse team
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaboratively work with other researchers
- Eager to learn and apply new skills
Salary Benefits:
A fully funded three year postdoctoral fellowship with ample room for personal development in a socially engaged organisation. We offer:
- A salary of minimum € 3.226,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 5.090,00 (Scale 10) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
- The appointment will initially be for 1 year. Subject to a positive evaluation, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 3 years.
- Plenty of room to acquire new skills to develop a highly-competitive research portfolio.
We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:
- a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
- contribution to commuting expenses
- space for personal development
- a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
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