Postdoc in Multifunctional (Opto)Acoustic Probes for in-vivo Applications - DTU Health Tech

We are looking for a creative, skilled and motivated scientist or engineer to develop groundbreaking acoustic technologies for sonogenetics and acoustic multifunctional endoscopy. You will be involved in fabricating and test nanomachined optical fibers for producing and sensing acoustic signals in-vivo.
Join us in developing the most advanced acoustic probes and endoscopes to produce and record acoustic signals into the brain and cardiovascular systems in cooperation with clinical experts.

The research activity aims to explore and develop optoacoustic probes for sonogenetics and in vivo tissue classification and identification. The technology will be based on optical probes for optoacoustic shock wave generation by pulsed laser excitation and plasmonics, integrated with piezoelectric transducers to record acoustic signals.

You will join a laboratory with expertise in photonics, piezoelectric materials and device fabrication methods for sensors and actuators, working under the supervision of Prof. Massimo De Vittorio. You will be a part of the IDUN Center of Excellence, led by Prof. Anja Boisen at DTU Department of Health Technology. IDUN is a highly cross-disciplinary research center with over 40 members that focuses on the development of micro and nanotechnology-based sensors, detection systems, and drug-delivery devices.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus will be on the design and fabrication of implantable optoacoustic probes such as micro and nanomachined optical fiber, integrated with plasmonic nanostructures and piezoelectric transducers based on either chitosan, aluminum nitride or PVDF. You will work with academic, clinical, and industrial partners in Denmark and abroad.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Develop and optimize optical fibers with acoustic generation properties, where the waveguiding region terminates with a tailored elastic absorber for the generation of shock waves upon applying laser pulses.
• Develop a setup for optoacoustic generation and measurement.
• Cooperate on the fabrication of piezoelectric transducers for sensing weak acoustic signals.
• Design the experiments to employ the integrated acoustic probe for clinical applications (also taking care of the ethical and authorization procedures for clinical and preclinical tests).
• Teach and supervise BSc and MSc student projects and be co-supervisor for PhD students.

The research activity will be conducted within the Center of Excellence – IDUN framework. In IDUN, our motto is ‘bringing science to life’ and we believe in openness, inclusiveness, having ambitions, making a difference and collaboration.

You will play a role mainly in the “Optomechanical Biointerfaces” research group coordinated by Prof. Massimo De Vittorio of the IDUN section, and you will interact with several members of IDUN working in different disciplines, such as biology, microfabrication, pharmaceutical science, and material science. The project is highly interdisciplinary, and we expect you to enjoy teamwork.

Candidates should have:

• A PhD in engineering, physics or chemistry with a strong experimental background in piezoelectric technology.
• A documented track record in photoacoustics and/or piezoelectrics.
• A solid commitment to research, enthusiasm for working with research students, independence, and strong communication skills.

In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:

• Relevance of background experience.
• Passion for research and scientific discoveries.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• A reference letter from the PhD advisor is welcome.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 2 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Massimo De Vittorio, [email protected].

You can read more about DTU Health Tech at www.healthtech.dtu.dk/.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 4 December 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Health Tech
With a vision to improve health and quality of life through technology, DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation based on technical and natural science. We educate tomorrow’s health tech engineers and create the foundation for new and innovative services and technologies for the globally expanding healthcare sector with its demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech’s expertise can be described through five overall research areas: Diagnostic Imaging, Digital Health, Personalised Therapy, Precision Diagnostics, and Sensory and Neural Technology. Our technologies and solutions are developed with the aim of benefiting people and creating value for society. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD Students, and a technical/administrative support staff of about 100 persons of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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