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 and synthesis of a library of degradable hydrogel precursors. The degradable hydrogel precursors developped will be used to create small spherical hydrogels (microgels) via microfluidics. Critical aspects of the hydrogel system design will involve hydrogel biocompatibilty, crosslinking and degradation kinetics, mechanical properties, and microgel production.

Your Tasks and Responsibilities:

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

• polymer functionalization
• preparation of a library of degradable functional groups
• running and optimizing a microfluidic setup to produce a library of microgels of different chemical compositions, sizes, and stiffnesses
• microgel degradation tests and quantification
• microgel characterization

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. Basic organic lab experience is required.
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 and soft material characterization 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.