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AMOLF
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Master’s Internship: Encapsulation Efficiency of PURE in Synthetic Cells AMOLF in Netherlands
Degree Level
Master's
Field of study
Biomedical Engineering
Funding
Available
Deadline
Jan 1, 2027
Country
Netherlands
University
AMOLF
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About this position
Master’s internship in synthetic cell research at AMOLF’s Physics of Cellular Interactions (Ganzinger) group in Amsterdam. The project is part of EVOLF, a large Dutch research consortium working toward building a fully functional synthetic cell from the bottom up.
The research focuses on the PURE system—Protein Synthesis Using Recombinant Elements—a well-defined cell-free transcription-translation platform used in synthetic biology. You will investigate how efficiently PURE components can be encapsulated inside giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), which serve as membrane-bound compartments for synthetic cells.
A central scientific challenge is understanding how encapsulation efficiency influences gene expression. Fluorescent protein production alone cannot reveal whether a vesicle lacks essential components or contains transcription machinery without sufficient translation machinery. You will therefore compare RNA and protein production in individual GUVs, measuring the encapsulation efficiencies of transcriptional and translational components.
Your work will help identify bottlenecks in current GUV preparation methods and clarify the sources of gene-expression variability in synthetic cells. The project combines synthetic biology, microscopy, quantitative analysis, and the study of molecular processes in simplified cellular systems.
You will join a supportive, collaborative group of PhD students and postdocs studying cellular signaling, immune synapses, artificial signaling systems, and synthetic cells. AMOLF provides training in the experimental methods required for the project, integration into the research team, and day-to-day interaction with the PCI group and the wider EVOLF consortium.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree in (bio)physics, nanobiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or a related field and currently be enrolled in a Master's programme in one of these disciplines. Applicants must be nationals of an EU member state and/or students at a university in the Netherlands. The internship must be a mandatory part of the curriculum. Availability for at least five months is expected, with longer availability preferred. Experience with confocal microscopy, synthetic biology, or quantitative data analysis is advantageous but not required.
How to apply
Apply online through the AcademicTransfer vacancy page using the “Apply now” button. For further information, contact Kristina Ganzinger or Franziska Giessler by email.
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