The Institute of Physics (FZU) is a leading public research institution located in Prague, the Czech Republic, which is oriented on fundamental and applied research in physics. FZU is the largest institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences with more than 1300 employees. FZU is involved in high quality, innovative, and ground-breaking fundamental and applied research.
The Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems has recently established several new research groups that operate in a collaborative environment: the Biophotonics Laboratory, the Laboratory of Biophysics, and the Laboratory of Functional Biointerfaces.
The candidate will be a member of an international and multidisciplinary scientific team solving particular problems in the field of microfluidics, nanofluidics, polymer chemistry, and single-molecule microscopy. We are looking for a new member to master techniques in microfabrication, nanofabrication, surface-initiated polymerization, and a variety of optical-based sensing techniques.
Description of the Research
Microfluidics, the precise manipulation of fluids constrained to channels with sizes on the order of 10s of microns, is now omnipresent across chemical, biological, and engineering sciences. Nanofluidics pushes this manipulation approach to the extreme, with fluid manipulation in channels of only 10s to 100s of nanometers in diameter. Optofluidics entails the manipulation and measurement of fluidic processes (both micro and nano) using light. You will use microfluidic, nanofluidic, and optofluidic technologies for a variety of end uses, two of which include:
- Microfluidics for the synthesis of advanced polymer synthetic surfaces. Here we will use unique microfluidic methods to control the distribution of molecules, both within micro-confined spaces as well as in time, to synthesize ultrathin polymer films having a 3D nanostructured composition. These surfaces will be used to investigate a variety of biomolecular interactions relevant to biology and biosensing.
- Nanofluidics for the study of single-molecule processes. Here we will use a recently developed method – nanofluidic scattering microscopy – to study the biomolecular interaction occurring between single molecules flowing through nanofluidic channels. This cutting edge research will be used to clarify several unknown biological and physical phenomena.
Specific tasks will include:
- The design and fabrication of microfluidic and nanofluidic chips
- Computational analysis of fluid dynamics and mass transport
- Creating novel microfluidic systems to synthesize advanced polymer surfaces
- The use of nanofluidic systems for single-molecule studies
You will work in a friendly international environment with scientists from many backgrounds. We do not require any prerequisites other than a strong will to learn new disciplines, and the creativity, curiosity, and self-motivation to “step outside the box” from the standard scientific ways of doing things. You will be expected to participate in multiple scientific conferences, and there is also potential to collaborate with several high-profile research institutions (academic and industrial) both in the Czech Republic and beyond. Finally, you’ll be working directly with a native English speaker, so you can expect to craft your written and spoken skills
Requirements
- B. Sc. or M.Sc. in Physics, Biophysics, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field
- Creativity and a mindset for analytical thinking
- Sound verbal and written communication skills in English
Non-mandatory requirements (what you will learn with us):
- Micro and nanofabrication, including photolithography and soft lithography)
- Optical-based bioanalytical techniques: dark field (scattering) microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and fluorescence microscopy.
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFC) and transport phenomena
- Heterogeneous polymerization and the synthesis of polymer brush films
- Programming in Matlab, Python, and others
- CAD design and 3D printing
- Analytical characterization, including SEM, AFM, Spectroscopy
Why should you apply
- Working in an international, creative and highly motivated environment
- Cutting-edge research topics with high application potential
- Working in a multidisciplinary research team
- A stimulating and friendly supervising and mentoring environment
- Unique research facilities
- Training and development possibilities (seminars, workshops, conferences)
- Soft skills trainings (project management, grants applications, etc.)
- Language courses
- A competitive salary
- Flexible working hours
- Home office mode
- And more benefits such as Multisport card, cooperate kindergarten, etc
Terms of employment
The initial period of employment is 1 year (with the possibility of an extension).
Application procedure
Please send a motivation letter, your CV, a list of publications and two references to Petra Kratochvilova, HR partner (petra [dot] kratochvilova [at] fzu [dot] cz). Questions about the position please write to the same e-mail address.