Postdoctoral Fellowship: High throughput SERS for multiplexed fingerprinting

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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