IMT 14-20 Master Thesis: Development of an Optofluidic Platform to study phototaxis in Microorganisms

Organizational unit

Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT)

Job description

Are you interested choreographing the orientation and position of light sensitive microorganisms to unravel their movement patterns and optical properties? In this project, we aim to develop an optoelectronic microfluidic chip that is capable of displacing and trapping bacteria cells using forces generated by electric fields. The trapped cells will then be investigated using optical waveguides under a microscopic platform.

The specific tasks within the project will be: (i) design and simulation using COMSOL of devices; (ii) cell handling and testing; (iii) fabrication and microscopic testing of cells in microfluidic chambers; (iv) design and fabrication of optoelectronics circuit boards.

You will be integrated in a larger team within the SPA-Lab. Within this project, you will use the infrastructure existent at the Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), i.e., microfabrication facilities and micro-characterization equipment. This is a complete project, offering the possibility to fabricate and test the devices, giving you the opportunity to co-author conference and/or journal publications.

Further information on the Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT): https://www.imt.kit.edu/

Starting date

by appointment

Personal qualification

• good academic record (marks); curious about various aspects of science;
• enthusiastic to work in a multidisciplinary environment;
• independent thinker and team player;
• in particular: strong interest in microfluidics, BioMEMS, microsystems technologies for bio-medical applications, biophotonics;
• knowledge in microsystems/microfabrication/microfluidics is desirable

Field of study: Mechanical/electrical/chemical engineering, Bioingenieurwesen, Chemieingenieurwesen, Biotechnologie, Optics