- JOB
- Netherlands
3 Oct 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
- University of Groningen
- Research Field
- Chemistry » Analytical chemistryChemistry » Inorganic chemistryEngineering » Chemical engineeringEngineering » Materials engineering
- Researcher Profile
- First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Application Deadline
- Country
- Netherlands
- Type of Contract
- Temporary
- Job Status
- Not Applicable
- Hours Per Week
- 38.0
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
- Not funded by a EU programme
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Offer 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.
Where to apply
Requirements
Specific 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.
Additional Information
Benefits
What can you expect from us?
- 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
- End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
- Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
Selection process
Interested?
Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway. Please add the following documents to your application:
- CV
- Cover letter.
Information about applying
When scheduling meetings, we will take your schedule into account as much as possible. The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy.
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP application code
Acquisition is not appreciated.
Additional comments
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
- Website for additional job details
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- University of Groningen
- Country
- Netherlands
- City
- Groningen
- Postal Code
- 9712 CP
- Street
- Broerstraat 5
Contact
- City
- Groningen
- Website
- Street
- Broerstraat 5
- Postal Code
- 9712 CP