Zijlstra

The Molecular Plasmonics group at Eindhoven University of Technology is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on the development of advanced metasurfaces for single-molecule biosensing. The project aims to create a new generation of biosensors that utilize both collective and localized resonances in plasmonic metasurfaces to significantly enhance the sensitivity of single-molecule detection. Traditional single-molecule detection techniques rely heavily on fluorescence microscopy, but recent breakthroughs in the group led by Prof. Zijlstra have demonstrated that metallic nanoparticles can be used to amplify fluorescence signals, enabling the observation of microsecond molecular dynamics previously inaccessible. The next step in this research is to design and fabricate novel plasmonic metasurfaces with multiple resonances to further boost fluorescence enhancement. As a PhD candidate, you will work on the colloidal assembly of these metasurfaces, functionalize them with biomolecules such as DNA, and experimentally investigate the mechanisms of fluorescence enhancement using single-molecule spectroscopy and super-resolution microscopy. The research will address key questions about the design and optimization of plasmonic metasurfaces for maximum fluorescence brightness and their application in next-generation biosensors. The project is supervised by Prof. Zijlstra (Molecular Plasmonics group) and co-supervised by Prof. Gomez Rivas (Surface Photonics group), both within the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education. You will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of physicists, chemists, and biomedical engineers, and have access to state-of-the-art single-molecule microscopes and wet-chemical laboratories. The research environment is highly collaborative, with both groups being part of larger research clusters in optical sensing and photonics. The position is fully funded, and the successful candidate will join a vibrant academic community at Eindhoven University of Technology, located in the Netherlands. Applicants should have a strong background in physics, chemistry, materials science, or related fields, and experience in nanophotonics, plasmonics, or experimental optics is highly desirable. The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and proficiency in English are required. For more information and to apply, visit the Academic Transfer link provided.