Postdoc Physics of Cellular Robustness

Join the Laan Lab at TU Delft to unravel the mesoscale physics of how cells maintain robustness through evolution using live-cell imaging and modelling.

Job description

Cells display a remarkable ability to adapt to strong genetic perturbations. In some cases, only a handful of mutations are sufficient to restore cellular function, even after major disruptions. This raises a fundamental question: how do cells reorganize their internal processes to buffer such perturbations and maintain functionality?

Within the ERC Consolidator Grant project PolarRobustness, we investigate the idea that cellular processes are not independent, but physically coupled. These couplings may allow processes to absorb and compensate for disturbances in each other, giving rise to a collective form of robustness. Understanding this requires moving beyond studying a single process in isolation, and instead capturing how multiple processes interact dynamically within the same cell.

In this postdoctoral project, you will in collaboration develop and apply an integrated experimental and theoretical framework to study multiple coupled cellular processes simultaneously. You will combine advanced live-cell microscopy with inference-based modeling to quantitatively describe how cells coordinate key processes over time.

You will work closely with an interdisciplinary team to establish a systems-level understanding of how coupled cellular processes collectively buffer perturbations.

Job requirements

The project will start in September and is embedded in the Laan Lab at the Department of Bionanoscience, Faculty of Applied Sciences, TU Delft. The lab offers a highly collaborative and international environment at the interface of physics and biology.

We are looking for a candidate with strong experience in live-cell microscopy and a keen interest in combining experiments with quantitative modeling to uncover fundamental principles of cellular organization and robustness. We expect the candidate to be a team-player, to have an independent and well-organized work style, to be communicative and creative, and to contribute to our open, interactive, and social lab culture.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 1 year. Temporary.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

About TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

Knowledge security

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by candidates, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest.

This is an EU funded project, named PolarRobustness, within the Horizon Europe / ERC Consolidator Grant programme.