Development of Antimicrobial Microrobots for Implant Biofilm Removal

One of the main research lines within the Biomaterials and Tissue Biomechanics Section is the development of antimicrobial biomaterials for bone applications. 

Job description

Orthopaedic implants alleviate pain and restore mobility for millions of osteoarthritic patients worldwide. However, one of the leading causes of implant failure is implant-associated infection. With the continuous rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, these infections represent a serious challenge for patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems alike.

This project aims to develop novel strategies for treating bone implant-associated infections, focusing on the use of antimicrobial microrobots. These motile microsystems can be remotely controlled via a magnetic field to eradicate biofilm infections.

Your primary research focus will be the design and fabrication of microrobots capable of removing biofilms under the influence of an external magnetic field. You will work closely with researchers from the BTB Section, as well as collaborators from various university medical centers and companies in the Netherlands and abroad.

You are expected to contribute new knowledge toward achieving the project’s objectives, conduct high-quality research, and publish in high-impact journals.

Job requirements

• You have a MSc degree in biomedical engineering or related field.
• You have sound knowledge in additive manufacturing.
• You have experience on additive manufacturing of polymeric and metallic biomaterials.
• You are expected to have good skills for in vitro research.
• You are a team player and like to work in a multidisciplinary environment.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. 

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Mechanical Engineering 

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems. 

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work. 

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 8 months Temporary
• A job of 32-36 hours per week. 
• A salary based on Schaal 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3378 - €5331 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr.ir. Iulian Apachitei, I.Apachitei@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 27 June 2025  via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Julian Apachitei.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.