PhD - Exploring the Physics of Synthetic Molecular Motors Driven by Light

Are you excited about exploring the physics of synthetic nanomotors using cutting-edge single-molecule techniques? Join forces with top theorists and experimentalists in our new consortium to pioneer the frontiers of human-made molecular machines!

We offer a PhD position: Exploring the Physics of Synthetic Molecular Motors Driven by Light within the international consortium ‘Joining Forces for Synthetic Molecular Machines’.

Your function

Scientific programme: Molecular motors are intriguing nanomachines that convert fuel to useful work and directed motion despite the large random fluctuations that are inherent to the molecular building blocks of our world. Over the past decade there has been a surge of new synthetic unidirectional rotary motors powered by light (2016 Nobel prize) that have enormous potential to actuate new types of designer molecular machines and materials. Now, it is time to perform the first single-motor force measurements for fundamental mechanistic explorations that enable the next leap forward toward exploitation of these motors in functional molecular machines.

In this PhD project, you will investigate the physics of individual synthetic molecular motors using advanced single-molecule techniques. You will develop and apply optical tweezers and single-molecule fluorescence experiments to quantify for the first time how these light-driven nanomotors can generate force, control directed motion, and step along DNA and/or engineered DNA-nanotechnology tracks. Your mechanistic exploration will link the thermodynamic performance of synthetic motors to molecular design principles and contribute to the development of the first generation of functional molecular machines.

Your PhD project is embedded in a strong collaborative consortium funded by NWO-XL, with the pioneers of light-driven rotary molecular motors of Nobel-laureate Ben Feringa (RUG), with single-molecule experimentalists Iddo Heller (VU) and Jan Lipfert (UniA), with theoretical physicist Chase Broedersz (VU), and with theoretical/computational chemists Jocelyne Vreede (UvA) and Shirin Faraji (HHU).

Your duties

• develop and perform single-molecule experiments using optical tweezers and fluorescence microscopy
• design and optimize assays and instrumentation to quantify binding interactions and dynamics of synthetic molecular motors
• measure force generation, motion and molecular interactions at the single-molecule level
• analyze experimental data and connect results to theoretical models and molecular design
• collaborate closely with theorists and chemists within the consortium and contribute to publications and presentations

Your profile

• a master’s degree (MSc) in physics, nanoscience, biophysics, or a closely related discipline
• experience with experimental research, preferably in soft condensed matter physics/biophysics, force-spectroscopy, or advanced optics/microscopy
• experience or affinity with data analysis and scientific programming (e.g. Python, Matlab)
• strong motivation to work in an interdisciplinary research environment
• excellent command of English, both written and spoken

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

• an employment contract of initially 1 year with intended starting date 1 September 2026. In consultation, a different starting date is possible. If there is sufficient perspective, the initial contract will be extended to a total of 4 years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• group insured for partial disability with employer contribution of 50% of the premium
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

About us

The PhD position is hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the VU Amsterdam, in the section Physics of Living Systems. You will be part of an NWO-funded XL consortium that brings together world-leading expertise in single-molecule biophysics, synthetic chemistry, and theoretical modelling.

Consortium

The PhD position is one of nine PhD/PD positions funded by the NWO-XL consortium ‘Joining Forces for Human-Made Molecular Machines’ led by principle investigator (PI) Iddo Heller. This consortium brings together world-leading expertise from six complementary and synergistic research groups in order to take the next leap toward artificial molecular machinery.

Within the consortium, Nobel-laureate Ben Feringa (RUG) leads synthesis and characterisation of molecular motors; motor and track design and data interpretation is led by theoretical and computational chemists Jocelyne Vreede (UvA) and Shirin Faraji (HHU Düsseldorf), while single-molecule experiments are led by Iddo Heller (VU) and Jan Lipfert (UniA); theoretical biophysicist Chase Broedersz (VU) leads modelling of non-equilibrium motor/machine operation.

After one year of progress on motor design and synthesis (the consortium started mid 2025), we are now ready to initiate single-molecule experiments aimed to uncover the fundamental operating principles of synthetic molecular motors and to translate these into functional molecular machines with life-like behaviour.

Section Physics of Living Systems

The experimental and theoretical research in our section explores the physical and mechanistic principles underlying living systems. We address fundamental biophysical questions across different scales, from single molecules to viruses and chromosomes, as well as the emergent physics of living cells, tissues, and whole organisms.

We develop and apply a range of advanced quantitative experimental techniques to image and micro-manipulate the physics of such living systems across orders of magnitude in length, time, force and torque scales. PI's Iddo Heller, Erwin Peterman, and Gijs Wuite pioneered single-molecule analysis based on optical tweezers and fluorescence microscopy, which is complemented by magnetic tweezers expertise from PI David Dulin. To develop theory for the physics of living systems, PI's Chase Broedersz and Greg Stephens combine approaches from (non-)equilibrium statistical and soft matter physics with dynamical systems theory, information theory, and machine learning.

By sharing facilities and methods, our research section fosters a collaborative and synergistic research environment to address challenges at the frontiers of the physics of living systems.