Two PhD positions in Biomaterials

Utrecht University is looking for two highly motivated PhD students who will join the NWO-Vici project: 'Functional materials for high resolution 3D bioprinting in kidney engineering (3D-Shrink)'. In the 3D-Shrink Vici-project, the aim is to develop new functional biomaterials for high resolution 3D bioprinting. Currently, hydrogel-based biomaterials are 3D-printed into structures to mimic tissue and organ organization for tissue engineering applications. They are ideal materials for regenerative medicine purposes due to their high water content and similar characteristics to the native extracellular matrix. Importantly, the function of artificial tissues is directed by the shape of cell-containing constructs. A major challenge in hydrogel bioprinting is reaching dimensions small enough to resemble complex and tubular shapes present in humans. Resolution enhancement in bioprinting is challenged by the presence of living cells that can handle only a certain amount of stress and pressure during fabrication. Therefore, instead of a machine approach, as the PhD-students in the 3D-Shrink project, you will develop an innovative biomaterials approach to reach the required resolution.