Postdoc Position in Microbubbles for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging

Postdoc Position in Microbubbles for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging

University of Twente

Enschede, Netherlands

You will investigate how microfluidically formed, targeted, monodisperse microbubbles change their acoustic response upon molecular binding in model capillary blood vessels. By combining microfabrication, ultrasound imaging, bubble design, and fluid dynamics, you enable acoustic discrimination between bound and freely circulating microbubbles for molecular ultrasound diagnostics of, for example, cancer and inflammation.

You will join an interdisciplinary research project in molecular ultrasound imaging using functionalized, monodisperse microbubbles. The project aims to understand how the acoustic response of microbubbles changes upon molecular binding to capillary blood vessel walls, how this response differs from that of freely circulating bubbles in confined vessel-like environments and in unbounded liquid, and how microbubbles can be designed to maximise the change in acoustic response upon binding. The long-term objective is to enable acoustic discrimination between bound and non-bound microbubbles through the combined design of microbubbles and ultrasound imaging sequences.

You will design, fabricate, and characterize viscoelastic capillary phantoms with controlled sizes and configurations using hydrogel-based materials and cleanroom microfabrication technologies. You will perform acoustic scattering and attenuation measurements and develop ultrasound imaging and characterization strategies using a Verasonics NXT fully programmable research ultrasound imaging system. The work requires strong hands-on experimental skills, creativity in experimental design, and an interest in combining microfluidics, acoustics, and ultrasound imaging.

Your profile

• A PhD degree in Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience in microfluidics and fluid mechanics.
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB. Experience with a Verasonics ultrasound imaging system is a plus.
• Good communication and writing skills in English