Postdoctoral Researcher in Plasma Etching Microfluidic Devices

• Working at the VUBFor more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities:
innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves.

With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research.

In short:
the VUB all over again.

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.- Position descriptionThe Faculty of Engineering, Department Chemische ingenieurstechnieken en industriële scheikunde, Research Group No Large Research Group is looking for a postdoctoral researcher with a grant.

More concretely your work package, for the validation of your doctoral research, contains:

μFlow Cell is a multidisciplinary research group of the VUB that works on the upscaling of microfluidics for pharmaceutical, biotechnological or medical applications.μFlow Cell is recognized and supported by VUB as a Group of Excellence in Advanced Research (GEAR).

The group has several research lines that are further developed with the financial support of the Brussels Government via Innoviris, the Flemish Government via FWO and VLAIO, the European Union via Horizon Europe, or through direct collaborations with interested companies.

To support the activities of μFlow Cell, VUB is also building a new cleanroom (MICROLAB) for microfabrication in silicon and glass for microfluidics, which will be operational in the third quarter of 2024.

MICROLAB has a floorspace of 550 m2, of which 300 m2 will be equipped with the most advanced machines for every essential production step in microfabrication.

μFlow Cell is now looking for a postdoctoral researcher who will participate in the project 'Novel Approaches for Halogen-free and Sustainable Etching of Silicon and Glass (HaloFreeEtch)'.

This project is supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) as a Pathfinder project, part of the Challenge 'Responsible Electronics'.

In the next 4 years, starting 01/09/24, teams of the VUB, Technical University Chemnitz, Fraunhofer ENAS, University of Graz, PlasmaSolve, LioniX, and Warrant Hub, will research and develop halogen-free plasma etching processes.

The μFlow Cell team of Prof.

De Malsche will focus on halogen-free etching of glass, making use of the latest state-of-the-art plasma equipment at the new core facility MICROLAB.

While the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) is banning the use of fluorochemicals because of their detrimental effects on the environment and health, the European Commission (EC) has launched the European Chips Act to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to Europe.

The only way to merge both ambitions is to develop novel semiconductor manufacturing processes, free from fluor and other halogen compounds.

With MICROLAB and the HaloFreeEtch project, the μFlow Cell wants to make a significant contribution to this transition. As postdoctoral researcher you will at least be responsible for the following tasks.

• Plasma etching process development for glass and silicon using halogen-free precursors.
• Design and implement machine modifications (hardware and software) to enable these novel processes.
• Design and fabrication of microfluidic chips in silicon, glass and polymers.
• Design and construction of new experimental setups in which the chips can be tested.
• Design, conduct, analyse and report experiments.
• Interact with other academic researchers and industrial research groups.
• Prepare and attend technical meetings with internal or external customers.
• Contribute to writing scientific publications with the team
• Co-supervise Master students and interact with PhD students working on related topics
• Maintain order, safety and quality in your workspace. You will be supervised by Prof. Wim De Malsche.

For the HaloFreeEtch project, you will work in a team of 4-5 colleagues. This team is embedded in a larger group of 15-20 researchers working on microfluidics. For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.

- ProfileWhat do we expect from you? A PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Electronics, Electromechanics, Electricity, Materials, Microfabrication, nanotechnology, or equivalent.

The following additional technical/functional knowledge is appreciated.

• Expertise and at least 3 years of hands-on experience in plasma etching of silicon/glass.
• Expertise and at least 3 years of hands-on experience with other essential microfabrication steps such as lithography, CVD, PVD, ...
• Knowledge and hands-on experience with microfluidics, and devices such as biosensors.
• Familiarity with cleanroom and lab environment.
• Adept at researching professional literature and patents.
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English is essential, knowledge of Dutch or other languages is a plus.
• ICT: excellent knowledge of basic software packages Excel, Word, Outlook, Powerpoint, and use of machine software are essential. Knowledge of Solidworks or similar CAD programs, Matlab, Labview, and PLC is a plus. For this position, we expect the following personality.
• Hands-on mentality.
• Sense of initiative and flexibility.
• Strong in scientific analysis and reporting.
• Working with high self-imposed standards for quality and accuracy.
• Able to work both autonomously and in a team.
• Strong in multi-tasking.
• Willing to occasionally work overtime to meet specific deadlines. You stayed abroad for at least 12 months of the 3 years preceding the start date, and during this period you did not work or study in Belgium. However, during these 12 months, short-term stays in Belgium are allowed such as holidays, participation in conferences or a short stay to prepare your stay as a postdoctoral researcher. The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.- OfferAre you going to be our new colleague? You'll be offered a full-time postdoctoral scholarship, for 24 months (extendable up to max. 36 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the research activities), with planned starting date 01/09/2024. You'll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government. At the VUB, you're guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...)

and Ecocheques; Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;And finally:

great colleagues with a healthy drive.- Interested?Is this the job you've been dreaming of? Then apply, at the latest on 14/06/2024, via , and upload the following documents:your CV;your motivation letter;your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Dr. ir.

Wim De Malsche at or on Would you like to know what it's like to work at the VUB? Go to , and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.

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