Careers

Wilhelm Huck’s research group (based at Radboud University in the Netherlands) is recruiting two postdoctoral researchers. These positions are part of the European PROPEL consortium, which aims to develop an integrated, cost-efficient, and scalable pipeline for the production of protein-based materials and biocatalysts using synthetic cells.

Within the consortium, the Huck group will develop a ‘design-build-test-learn’ cycle, combining high-throughput experiments and active learning to obtain synthetic cells with desired properties. They will integrate liquid-handling robots and high-speed microscopy with AI and machine learning to form stable liposomes from libraries of (novel) phospholipids that can robustly encapsulate cell-free gene expression systems. They will then expand this pipeline to optimise yield and, in particular, the robustness of the cell-free expression system.

The group is seeking candidates who:

• hold a PhD in synthetic biology, chemical engineering or a related discipline;
• have practical experience with cell-free gene expression systems and/or liposomes;
• are interested in liquid-handling robots, Python and Bayesian optimisation.

Interested candidates must send their CV and cover letter to Wilhelm Huck (wilhelm.huck[at]ru.nl).