The DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen is a research institute that takes on the challenge of surpassing disciplinary limits and tackling new questions relating to substances and materials that combine technology and nature. It is a location where people with different talents, experiences and skills work together, to learn from each other, and generate new knowledge and new methods to create a better quality of life in our world.

DWI invites applications for a position as:

Master thesis (m/f/d) (Chemistry, Material Sciences, or related field of study)

Project description:

For the recently started NEOLIVER european project, our team has an open position for a Master thesis work for a duration of 6 months. The project involves working with spheroids and different synthetic hydrogel systems in order to create a 3D liver construct. Using laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) 3D bioprinting, the spheroids will be precisely deposited at a high density to create vascularized liver constructs.
The focus of the Master thesis will be on the design of the synthetic hydrogel system used in this project, the production of small spherical hydrogels (microgels) via microfluidics, and the combination of the hydrogel system with spheroids. Critical aspects of the hydrogel system design will involve hydrogel biocompatibilty, crosslinking kinetics, mechanical properties, and microgel production.

Your Tasks and Responsibilities:

With a support of highly interdisciplinary team of engineers, chemists, and bioengineers, you will learn with us and be responsible for:

• polymer functionalization
• preparation of a library of hydrogel polymer precursors with different cross-linking moieties,
• rheological evaluation of gelation kinetics and hydrogel mechanical properties
• production of hydrogels and microgels, combination of spheroids with the developped hydrogel system
• gel characterization
• biocompatibility assays with spheroids of interest.

Your Profile:

You should hold a bachelor’s degree and be currently enrolled in a master’s degree program in chemistry, materials science or related field of study. Organic lab experience is required, interest in working with cells is beneficial.
Strong interest in working in a high pace environment and a multidisciplinary project is essential.
The candidate must be a team-player and a strong communicator both in written form and verbally in English.
Having experience with polymers, emulsions, microfluidics or cell culture work is advantageous, but not required.

DWI offers:

We will offer you exciting and challenging tasks, as well as development opportunities in a modern scientific organization. We will provide you an open and team-oriented working atmosphere in an international environment. You will have the support of an experienced team and work in a close collaboration with national/international recognizable scientists in the field of biomedical and tissue engineering.
At DWI we value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, or ethnic and social background.