PhD Position Modelling-inspired Cell Engineering for Upscaled Cultivated Meat

Are you ready to combine innovative computational approaches with cutting-edge genetic tools to engineer the next generation of cell lines for cost-effective, scalable, delicious cruelty-free meat?!

Job description

‘Cultivated meat’, the production of genuine meat products from in vitro culture of animal cells, is an emerging biotechnology within the field of cellular agriculture with the potential to revolutionise food production from both an environmental and ethical perspective. Unfortunately, higher eukaryotic cells in their unmodified state have severe limitations with respect to in vitro culture, presenting major challenges for the scalability of cultivated meat bioprocesses. These include slow proliferation rates, sensitivity to shear stress and a marked preference for adherent growth, amongst others.

Cell engineering offers a potential solution to develop more scalable cell lines, but is held back by a limited understanding of the conditions that cells experience in large-scale cultures. We are hiring for a PhD student to join the group for a fully-funded project of 4 years to tackle this problem.

Within the Flack and Haringa groups, you will develop computational tools, such as compartment models and CFD simulations, to model large-scale animal cell culture in bioreactors, and use your models to design and develop scale-down systems for cell culture that mimic the heterogeneous environment cells experience at large scale. You will then engineer bovine satellite cell lines with a variety of new and improved phenotypes, relating to, for example, shear stress resistance, metabolite gradient tolerance, and metabolic efficiency, demonstrating their performance first in your scale-down systems, and later in large bioreactors.

Within the scope of computational modelling and cell engineering for cultivated meat, there will be flexibility to design and direct your own research projects, and to become acquainted with new techniques and approaches. There will be opportunities to supervise MSc and BSc students in the group. Advice and discussion will be available for candidates interested in both academic and industry careers. We are a friendly, collaborative group and are looking for a highly motivated student with strong scientific communication skills. You will be joining a dynamic department with broad interests in biotechnology and synthetic biology across all domains of life.

The research is funded as part of the Cellular Agriculture Netherlands Open Calls Programme, and will involve collaboration and coordination with various industrial parties and external experts.

Job requirements

The ideal candidate will be an ambitious, proactive, reflective, and results-driven researcher. We are looking for the following:

• MSc degree in a relevant field, such as cell biology, biotechnology or a related field of biological sciences.
• Prior lab experience in molecular biology, cloning and genetic manipulation.
• Prior experience or strong interest in computational modelling or other dry-lab techniques.
• Prior experience with mammalian cell culture.
• A strong interest in cellular agriculture/cultivated meat is essential, although specific prior experience in this area is not expected or required.
• Strong collaboration, communication and writing skills.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies such as biotechnology, synthetic biology, photonics, quantum- and nanotechnology, and materials for energy storage and conversion, the faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century.

Its scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in fields including Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

If you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job, TU Delft is committed to making your move as smooth as possible. The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands and expand your social network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.