TactoChem – Signal Amplification and Processing

Job description

A sense of touch allows us to handle objects with fine motor skills and navigate the complexities of everyday life. Robots struggle with even simple tasks, because their sensing capabilities remain limited. It is incredibly hard to achieve the level of sophistication and high-density integration of sensing, signal processing, and movement that comes so naturally to us. This project, funded by an European Starting Grant, aims to develop a new class of chemical touch sensors that can be incorporated into robotic prototypes. 

What are you going to do?

Join a rapidly expanding team of PhD students and Postdocs, shape a rapidly emerging field with your insights, and become a forerunner in chemically-driven robotics. The core objective of this PhD project is to amplify mechanochemical signals through chemical reactions and transport them across soft robotic hands to enable a sense of touch in robots. Leverage your systems chemistry and/or microfluidics background and learn more about polymer chemistry, rapid prototyping, and cutting edge analytical techniques.

Your main tasks will include to:

•        Develop soft robotic components with microfluidic channels that can transport chemical signals.
•        Establish chemical reaction networks that allow for amplification of mechanochemical signals and quantify their behaviour, supported by kinetic modelling.
•        Work with soft materials and 3D design and understand how signals travel through materials and activate movement responses.
•        Develop a systems chemistry approach to employ mechanophores for robotics.
•        Excel in a top chemistry group with top-notch infrastructure.

Requirements

We are looking for a collaborative, creative, and excellent colleague with:

•        An M.Sc. degree in chemistry or equivalent.
•        Demonstrable research experience in systems chemistry, microfluidics, and/or organic synthesis.
•        Motivation to design and synthesize novel reaction networks and study their behaviour in innervated soft robots
•        Excellent command of written and spoken English.
•        Willingness to acquire a variety of additional skills ranging from basic programming to 3D modelling.
•        Well-developed communication and collaboration skills and the ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary environment.

Ph.D. students are expected to develop scientific independence and complete research projects. Enthusiastic Ph.D. students stay abreast of developments in the field, proactively communicate research results, supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. students, and work effectively in a team. We are looking forward for you to joining our team to create new mechanochemistry, materials, and robots. 

Employer

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

Additional information

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Michael Lerch (Assistant Professor): m.m.lerch@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Dorien Smit (Human Resources Adviser): dorien.smit@rug.nl