For job seekers

The Institute of Photonics and Electronics v. v. i.* invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow pursuing research on microfluidic systems and their integration with optical affinity biosensors. Join the Optical Biosensors research team (team leader Prof. Jiří Homola) and contribute to cutting-edge research in microfluidics.

Do you want to use your theoretical knowledge of microfluidics as well as the ability to create microfluidic devices? Are you interested in projects in which you can work closely with experts in optics, photonics, chemistry or biology and contribute to developing novel optical biosensors? Are you eager to see your microfluidic systems used for cutting-edge research in molecular biology or medical diagnostics? If your answer is yes, you should apply for this position!

Job description

The development of microfluidic systems for optical affinity biosensors.

Specific tasks include: 

• modeling, design, and implementation of microfluidic chips for the detection of biomolecules and cells and the study of biomolecular interactions,
• preparation of microfluidic chips using two-photon polymerization, laser lithography, SLA 3D printing and other techniques,
• characterization of microfluidic chips and devices using state-of-art techniques (scanning electron microscopy, optical profilometry, etc.),
• design and implementation of experiments and data analysis. 

Requirements

• Ph. D. degree in engineering, chemical engineering, physics, chemistry, or in related field, 
• experience in research and development of microfluidic systems,
• experience in the fabrication of microfluidic structures and devices, and knowledge of micro-/nanofabrication methods, 
• publication record in the field of microfluidics,
• experience in simulations and programming languages (e.g., Matlab),
• experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is of advantage (e.g., using COMSOL Multiphysics),
• experience in collecting and analyzing affinity-based biosensor data is of advantage.

We offer:

• participation in exciting multidisciplinary research projects with a high societal impact,
• work in an international and inclusive research team and institution,
• outstanding research infrastructure, including microfabrication and characterization labs, optical labs, cleanroom facilities, chemistry and biochemistry labs with support from professional lab technicians, 
• language and professional training courses,
• full-time employment with five weeks of vacation and other benefits.

Terms of employment

Full-time employment contract for two years (with the possibility of an extension) starting from January 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Application procedure 

To apply, please respond to Mrs. Simona Motlová (email motlova@ufe.cz) with the following documents:  

• cover letter, 
• CV, 
• list of publications. 

In the subject line of your email, please state that you are applying for a Postdoctoral research fellow position in Microfluidics. 

^{* The selection procedure is announced in accordance with the Act No. 283/1992 of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, as amended by Act No. 420/2005, and in accordance with the Statutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.}

The Institute of Photonics and Electronics v. v. i.* invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the field of Optical Systems for Biosensing. Join the Optical Biosensors research team (team leader Prof. Jiří Homola) and contribute to cutting-edge research in optics and biosensing.

Job description 

The selected candidate will participate in the multidisciplinary research of optical biosensors based on surface plasmons and will be expected to develop novel optical platforms for biosensors based on plasmonic nanostructures for the detection of biomolecules related to biomedicine and investigation of biomolecular and cellular processes.

Specific tasks include: 

• research of optical systems for sensing, including, in particular, the design and development of optical sensing systems employing plasmonic (nano)structures;
• integration of the developed optical systems with plasmonic nanostructures and microfluidic devices and characterization of their performance in biosensing experiments involving various biomolecules and cells.

Requirements and essential skills

• Ph. D. degree in optics, optoelectronics, physics, electrical engineering, or similar;
• strong publication record in the field of optical systems for sensing, microscopy, or plasmonics;
• experience in the design and theoretical analysis of optical systems (e.g., using Ansys ZEMAX);
• hands-on experience in the development of optical systems based on free-space optics, including design, fabrication, and characterization of such systems;
• ability to efficiently communicate with other team members and supervise students;
• good command of written and spoken English;
• expertise in the field of light sources and detectors and image data processing tools (using MATLAB, Python, LabView etc.) is of advantage.

We offer

• Participation in exciting multidisciplinary research projects with a high societal impact;
• work in an international and inclusive research team and institution;
• outstanding research infrastructure including multiple optical labs, cleanroom facilities (incl. electron-beam lithography system, and a 2-photon polymerization 3D printer), chemistry and biochemistry labs with support from professional lab technicians, computational resources, and mechanical workshop for optomechanical prototyping;
• full-time employment with five weeks of vacation and other benefits.

Terms of employment

The initial period of employment is one year (with the possibility of an extension), starting from January 2024 or as soon as possible.

Application procedure

To apply, please, respond to our HR specialist Mrs. Simona Motlová (e-mail motlova@ufe.cz) with the following documents: 

• letter of application (cover letter),
• CV,
• list of publications.

In the subject line of your email, please, state that you are applying for a Postdoctoral research fellow position in Optical Systems for Biosensing.

^{* The selection procedure is announced in accordance with the Act No. 283/1992 of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, as amended by Act No. 420/2005, and in accordance with the Statutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.}