Our EVOLF community is growing. We are continuously on the lookout for PhD students and postdocs to join us on our scientific journey.

Career development and diversity

EVOLF will train ~90 PhD students and postdocs in cross-disciplinary skills and ethical research. We provide specialized training in synthetic-cell research, RRI, IP, and entrepreneurship, and offer an International Exchange Program for lab visits. Our inclusive recruitment and supportive environment ensure talent retention, with a diversity coordinator managing inclusion efforts and family-friendly international meetings.

Come join one of the following projects:

Please note; if you apply for multiple positions; please inform us by mentioning this in your cover letters.

Guidelines for Responsible Research and Innovation

Supervisor: Lotte Asveld, TU Delft

Postdoc position

Integrating GTP Homeostasis and GTP Consumption Modules for Energy Stability in Synthetic Cells

Supervisor: Liedewij Laan, TU Delft

Postdoc position

  • We are seeking an experimental post-doc to join a synthetic biology project focused on integrating GTP homeostasis with Cdc42 regulation. The successful candidate will work with the Poolman Lab (GTP production) and the Laan Lab (Cdc42 regulation). In close collaboration with various experts, you will investigate how to stably integrate metabolic energy producing and energy consuming modules in a synthetic cell, using DNA technology, microfluidics, imaging and network modelling. Experience in experimental biophysics and an appreciation of modeling are desirable; excitement about multidisciplinary team work is essential.

  • The vacancy is currently being formally prepared by the host institute. Once available we will provide a link here by which you can enter the application process. Until that time you can contact the PI directly for more information.

Energy metabolism and micrometer-size vesicles

Supervisor: Bert Poolman, RUG

Postdoc position


  • We aim to produce ATP, the general energy currency of the cell, in bacteria-size vesicles to meet metabolic rates required for growth of synthetic cells with doubling times of 1 day or faster. We will couple ATP production to the generation of electrochemical ion gradients (the other energy currency of living systems) and establish pH homeostasis

  • The vacancy is currently being formally prepared by the host institute. Once available we will provide a link here by which you can enter the application process. Until that time you can contact the PI directly for more information.

Advancing (mechano)sensing in synthetic cells through optimization of ion channels incorporation and activity in lipid bilayers

Supervisor: Marie- Eve Aubin- Tam, TU Delft

PhD position

  • Would you like to monitor the activity of single mechanosensitive membrane channels being inserted into artificial cell membranes? This will be the focus of a PhD project that will use new microfluidics tools combined with cell-free protein synthesis. A microfluidics system with freestanding lipid bilayers will enable the electrical monitoring of ion channels while a mechanical load is directly applied. The knowledge generated by this project will contribute to making synthetic cells which are responsive to the environment.

  • The vacancy is currently being formally prepared by the host institute. Once available we will provide a link here by which you can enter the application process. Until that time you can contact the PI directly for more information.

Developing an AI model for optimizing transcription and translation in the PURE system

Supervisor: Wilhelm Huck, Radboud University Nijmegen

Posdoc position

  • Deep learning methods to express gene expression levels in synthetic cells will greatly accelerate the design of functional synthetic genomes. In this project, transfer learning and transformer-based models fine-tuned on experimental data will be used to crack the hidden code in DNA that controls expression levels for individual genes.

  • The vacancy is currently being formally prepared by the host institute. Once available we will provide a link here by which you can enter the application process. Until that time you can contact the PI directly for more information.

Cytosolic protein translation mechanisms and bottlenecks

Supervisor: Sander Tans, AMOLF & TU Delft

PhD position

  • Breakthrough findings suggests ribosomes exploit yet-unknown dynamics and cooperativity to generate the highly complex proteins we know. To understand and optimize the underlying biophysics you will use cutting-edge sequencing and fluorescence-based methods. We are looking for an enthusiastic biophysicist or biochemist with a talent for quantitative and conceptual approaches.

  • The vacancy is currently being formally prepared by the host institute. Once available we will provide a link here by which you can enter the application process. Until that time you can contact the PI directly for more information.

Membrane protein biogenesis mechanisms

Supervisor: Sander Tans, AMOLF & TU Delft

Postdoc position

  • Breakthrough findings suggests ribosomes exploit yet-unknown dynamics and cooperativity to generate the highly complex membrane proteins we know. To understand and optimize the underlying biophysics you will use cutting-edge sequencing and fluorescence-based methods. We are looking for an enthusiastic biophysicist or biochemist with a talent for quantitative and conceptual approaches.

  • The vacancy is currently being formally prepared by the host institute. Once available we will provide a link here by which you can enter the application process. Until that time you can contact the PI directly for more information.

Biochemical coupling of DNA segregation to DNA replication (and cell division)

Supervisor: Marileen Dogterom, TU Delft

PhD position

  • Are you interested in building a cell-cycle module to couple DNA replication to active DNA segregation in synthetic cells? In this collaborative project you will work on establishing biochemical “cell-cycle” control in a cell-free system where all modules necessary for DNA segregation, replication initiation and cell-cycle control are co-expressed. Optimizing the different parameters in the systems will be performed using microfluidic, imaging-based screening and AI techniques.

  • The vacancy is currently being formally prepared by the host institute. Once available we will provide a link here by which you can enter the application process. Until that time you can contact the PI directly for more information.

Build, scramble and evolve synthetic, minimal genome-encoded modules in E. coli

Supervisor: Nico Claassens , WUR

PhD position


Value based design strategies

Supervisor: Lotte Asveld, TU Delft

PhD position

Developing an acoustofluidic platform for automated sorting of synthetic cells

Supervisor: Sabina Caneva, TU Delft

PhD position

Metabolic complexity in the synthetic cell

Supervisor: Dirk Slotboom, RUG

PhD position




Synthetic in vesiculo glycolysis for ATP, NADH and amino acid provision

Supervisor: Matthias Heineman, RUG

Postdoc/ PhD position are invited to apply

Finding the molecular interactions that coordinate membrane synthesis with cell growth

Supervisor: Greg Bokinsky, TU Delft

Postdoc position

Membrane protein insertion in the synthetic cell

Supervisor: Dirk Slotboom, RUG

Postdoc position


Phospholipid membranes for synthetic cells: reconstituting fatty acid and phospholipid synthesis from soluble nutrients

Supervisor: Greg Bokinsky, TU Delft

PhD position

Developing a smart, high-resolution 3D microscopy platform to evolve synthetic cells

Supervisor: Kristin Grußmayer, TU Delft

PhD position

Developing an AI model for optimizing transcription and translation in the PURE system

Supervisor: Wilhelm Huck, Radboud University Nijmegen

PhD position

Active learning route to autonomous division

Supervisor: Wilhelm Huck, Radboud University Nijmegen

PhD position

Equipping synthetic cells with adhesion receptors for surface attachment and mechanosensing

Supervisor: Gijsje Koenderink, TU Delft

Postdoc position

Optimization of gene regulatory and sensing modules for synthetic cells

Supervisor: Marianne Bauer, TU Delft

PhD position

Construction and optimization of synthetic chromosomes for self-expression of PURE

Supervisor: Pascale Daran- Lapujade, TU Delft

PhD position

Developing a microfluidics platform for lab-on-a-chip evolution of synthetic cells

Supervisor: Cees Dekker, TU Delft

PhD position

Temporal coordination of DNA segregation with DNA replication (and cell division)

Supervisor: Marileen Dogterom, TU Delft

Postdoc position

Two-component signaling and sensing module for synthetic cells

Supervisor: Kristina Ganzinger, AMOLF

PhD position

Craspase as a controller of transcription regulation

Supervisor: Stan Brouns, TU Delft

PhD position

Direct communication of synthetic cells by triggered adhesion causing inter-cell pores

Supervisor: Kristina Ganzinger, AMOLF

PhD position

Controlling cell-cell communication with cell adhesion molecules

Supervisor: Dimphna Meijer, TU Delft

PhD position

Computational Microscopy of JCVI-Syn3a

Supervisor: Siewert- Jan, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

PhD position

Multiscale modeling of cell division

Supervisor: Siewert- Jan, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Postdoc

Optimizing adhesion and mechanosensing in and between synthetic cells

Supervisor: Gijs Wuite, VU

PhD position

Conceptual understanding of life

Supervisor: Lotte Asveld, TU Delft

PhD position



Cell shape deformation and division driven by CDV proteins

Supervisor: Cees Dekker, TU Delft

PhD position

Optimize and evolve module co-functionality in E. coli

Supervisor: Nico Claassens , WUR

Postdoc position


Build and evolve a synthetic genome-encoded minimal metabolic network in E. coli

Supervisor: Nico Claassens , WUR

PhD position


Can macromolecule synthesis help drive vesicle deformation and division?

Supervisor: Timon Idema, TU Delft

PhD position


Smart mapping of module function and robustness to facilitate module integration

Supervisor: Liedewij Laan, TU Delft

PhD position


Building a robust negative feedback oscillator that temporally controls the growth and division cycle of the synthetic cell

Supervisor: Julia Kamenz, RUG

PhD position


Coupling sensing to intracellular organization for signal-induced polarization in synthetic cells

Supervisor: Liedewij Laan, TU Delft

PhD position


Lipid translocation and membrane growth

Supervisor: Bert Poolman, RUG

PhD position



Synthetic in vesiculo glycolysis for ATP, NADH and amino acid provision

Supervisor: Matthias Heineman, RUG

PhD position

Evolution of metabolic modules

Supervisor: Bert Poolman, RUG

PhD position




Establishing effective DNA replication in synthetic cells

Supervisor: Gijs Wuite, VU

Postdoc position

Structure and mechanism of minimal divisomes based on non-canonical Dynamin-like GTPases

Supervisor: Arjen Jakobi, TU Delft

PhD position

Establishing a cell shaper module for spatial control of synthetic cell division

Supervisor: Gijsje Koenderink, TU Delft

PhD position

Breaking through challenges in the construction of synthetic chrosomomes for synthetic cells

Supervisor: Pascale Daran- Lapujade, TU Delft

PhD position

Setting up a pipeline for mid-throughput, modular and flexible assembly of large DNA constructs and synthetic chromosomes.

Supervisor: Pascale Daran- Lapujade, TU Delft

Postdoc position

Optimizing transcription and translation in the PURE system using massively parallel transcriptomics and ribosome profiling

Supervisor: Alexander van Oudenaarden, Hubrecht Institute

PhD position


Computational analysis to reconstruct prokaryotic gene content evolution

Supervisor: Thijs Ettema, WUR

Postdoc position

Design, analysis and optimization of coding & non-coding sequences of genetic modules

Supervisor: John van der Oost, WUR

Postdoc postdoc

Optimizing and testing DNA design for the synthetic genome

Supervisor: Cees Dekker, TU Delft

Postdoc position


Cell shape deformation and division by RNA origami tiles

Supervisor: Cees Dekker, TU Delft

Postdoc position


Cell shape deformation and division by RNA origami tiles

Supervisor: Cees Dekker, TU Delft

Postdoc position


Active learning route to autonomous division

Supervisor: Wilhelm Huck, Radboud University Nijmegen

Postdoc

Establishing a robust FtsZ-based divisome for synthetic cell constriction

Supervisor: Gijsje Koenderink, TU Delft

PhD position


Building a sensing module

Supervisor: Pieter Rein ten Wolde, NWO Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam

PhD position


Modelling the cell cycle

Supervisor: Pieter Rein ten Wolde, NWO Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam

Postdoc position


Design, testing and evolutionary optimization of a simple replication system

Supervisor: John van der Oost (MIB/WUR)

PhD position


New openings online

We will ad more PhD/PD openings here, so stay tuned!