University of Maastricht
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Postdoctoral Researcher in Engineered Living Materials and Programmable Hydrogels Maastricht University in Netherlands
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Biomedical Engineering
Funding
18-month postdoctoral contract (1.0 FTE) with the possibility of extension. Gross monthly salary €3,706–€5,760 based on 38 hours per week, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus. Also includes 29 vacation days, four additional days off, pension via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to university sports facilities.
Deadline
Nov 15, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
University of Maastricht
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About this position
Maastricht University is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher in Engineered Living Materials and Programmable Hydrogels for the ERC Consolidator project SupraValent. The project sits in the BioMatt group of Dr. Matthew Baker within MERLN’s Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering (IBE).
The research combines synthetic biology, microbial engineering, and biomaterials to build a programmable two-way interface between living cells and supramolecular hydrogels. The postdoc will engineer microbial cells that can sense signals and produce, secrete, display, or activate molecules that modify hydrogel structure, mechanics, or function over time.
Core topics include engineered living materials, dynamic hydrogels, microbial encapsulation, biocontainment, gene circuits, inducible expression, protein secretion/surface display, enzyme-mediated material modification, and quantitative analysis of cell–material feedback. The role also involves hydrogel characterization methods such as rheology, microscopy, spectroscopy, diffusion/transport measurements, and chemical-conversion assays.
The position is based in Maastricht, Netherlands, and offers an international, interdisciplinary environment with access to modern facilities and collaboration across biomaterials, chemistry, mechanobiology, tissue engineering, biofabrication, microbiology, and cell biology.
Applicants should have a completed PhD by the start date in Synthetic Biology, Molecular Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Chemical Biology, Biomaterials, or a closely related field. Strong hands-on experience with microbial culture and genetic engineering is required, along with rigorous experimental design, troubleshooting, data analysis, and scientific communication. Excellent scientific English (minimum CEFR C1) is required. Experience with engineered living materials or quantitative modelling is a strong advantage.
This is a postdoctoral opening with an 18-month contract (1.0 FTE) and the possibility of extension. Salary is €3,706–€5,760 per month plus holiday allowance and year-end bonus. The application deadline is 15 November 2026.
To apply, submit a CV, cover letter, and contact details for two referees through the vacancy page. For scientific questions, contact Dr. Matthew Baker at [email protected].
Funding details
18-month postdoctoral contract (1.0 FTE) with the possibility of extension. Gross monthly salary €3,706–€5,760 based on 38 hours per week, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus. Also includes 29 vacation days, four additional days off, pension via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to university sports facilities.
What's required
A completed PhD by the agreed starting date in Synthetic Biology, Molecular Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Chemical Biology, Biomaterials, or a closely related field. Strong hands-on experience with microbial culture and genetic engineering, including independent design-build-test cycles, molecular cloning, expression-system optimization, and quantitative validation of cellular outputs. Experience with inducible gene expression, genetic circuits, protein secretion or surface display, enzyme production, metabolic engineering, or biosensing. Interest in connecting cell function to material properties and willingness to learn or apply hydrogel characterization methods such as rheology, microscopy, spectroscopy, diffusion or transport measurements, and chemical-conversion assays. Ability to work independently and collaborate across synthetic biology, chemistry, materials science, and cell biology. Strong advantage for experience with engineered living materials, microbial encapsulation, biocontainment, hydrogel systems, enzyme-mediated material modification, or quantitative modelling. Excellent scientific English at minimum CEFR C1.
How to apply
Submit a CV, a cover letter explaining your motivation and relevant experience, and the names and contact details of two referees. Apply via the application button on the vacancy page before the deadline. For scientific questions, contact Dr. Matthew Baker by email.
More information can be found here
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