PhD - Development of a Novel Lab-on-a-Chip Component for the Analysis and Sorting of Single Cells

As part of our research team, you will work on cutting-edge solutions for the life sciences. We are offering a PhD position to develop a novel dielectrophoresis (DEP) chip for the analysis and sorting of single cells.
Multi-omics analyses at the single-cell level offer crucial diagnostic insights into diseases. However, current automation technologies are often inefficient and expensive. Your project will focus on overcoming these limitations by developing an image-based DEP chip to automate the compartmentation, sample preparation, analysis, and sorting of single cells. This technology aims to enable high-throughput, gentle multi-omics analyses for universal sample types.

• You will develop and evaluate innovative concepts for semiconductor-based dielectrophoresis (DEP) chips, determining robust electrical, microfluidic, and thermal operating parameters.
• Furthermore, you will investigate the physical limits of chip miniaturization and explore feasible manufacturing routes compatible with Bosch’s CMOS technology.
• You will design and fabricate a functional demonstrator using semiconductor manufacturing processes and integrate it into a microfluidic system.
• Last but not least, you will characterize the prototype and perform a proof of concept for all operating modes using a representative bioassay with living cells in physiological media.