Postdoc Position in Ultrasound Imaging and Microbubble Physics

Postdoc Position in Ultrasound Imaging and Microbubble Physics

University of Twente

Enschede, Netherlands

€ 3.546 - € 5.538 per month gross

You will investigate how coated monodisperse microbubbles change their acoustic response when they bind to molecular targets on blood vessel walls. Using microfabricated hydrogel vessel models and ultrasound imaging, you will track bubbles and study how the acoustic signature of designer microbubbles changes upon molecular binding. Your work will contribute to the development of new molecular ultrasound imaging methods for disease diagnosis.

Interested in experimental ultrasound imaging, microfluidics, and fluid dynamics? Join our research program on molecular ultrasound imaging using functionalized, monodisperse microbubbles. The project addresses a fundamental question: how does the acoustic response of a microbubble change when it binds to a molecular target on a blood vessel wall? By combining monodisperse designer microbubbles, microfluidic blood vessel models, and programmable ultrasound imaging, you will investigate how binding alters the acoustic signature of individual bubbles and how this effect can be exploited to acoustically distinguish bound from freely circulating microbubbles.

Beyond ultrasound imaging, there is ample opportunity to develop complementary experimental approaches to understand the underlying bubble physics. These include ultra-high-speed imaging of bubble dynamics at up to ten million frames per second and laser-induced fluorescence imaging to probe microbubble behavior and shell dynamics. The goal is to obtain a full physical understanding of the mechanisms governing the acoustic response of bound microbubbles.

You will perform ultrasound imaging experiments using a fully programmable Verasonics NXT research ultrasound system to study microbubbles flowing through and binding to microfluidic channels in hydrogel-based blood vessel models. Using the acquired RF data, you will track microbubbles as they travel through the vessel phantom and bind to the vessel wall, and analyze changes in echo amplitude and spectral content associated with binding.

You will work closely with three PhD students who develop the microbubbles and tune their molecular targeting and viscoelastic shell properties. You will have substantial freedom to develop new experimental approaches and imaging strategies, and there is ample opportunity to initiate and coordinate experiments together with the PhD students while contributing to their supervision alongside your own research track.

Your profile

• A PhD degree in Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field;
• Experience with ultrasound imaging and strong programming skills in Matlab;
• Strong experimental skills and creativity in experimental design;
• Experience with microfluidics, fluid mechanics, or high-speed imaging is a plus;
• Interest in interdisciplinary research combining fluid dynamics, interfacial physics, acoustics, and microfluidics;
• Good communication and writing skills in English.