Postdoctoral position Hybrid and De Novo-Designed Nanopores for Single-Molecule Protein Sensing

Postdoctoral position Hybrid and De Novo-Designed Nanopores for Single-Molecule Protein Sensing

Postdoctoral position Hybrid and De Novo-Designed Nanopores for Single-Molecule Protein Sensing

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse .

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Apply no later than: 4 November 2026

Postdoctoral position Hybrid and De Novo-Designed Nanopores for Single-Molecule Protein Sensing

https://werkenbij.rug.nl/vacature/postdoctoral-position-hybrid-and-de-novo-designed-nanopores-for-single-molecule-protein-sensing-2502/?lang=en

What are you going to do?

This postdoctoral position is part of a multidisciplinary consortium project bringing together three partners at the forefront of nanopore science: the Vorobieva lab at the VUB-VIB Center for Structural Biology (Brussels), a pioneer in the de novo computational design of membrane proteins and nanopores from physical principles; the group of Prof. Giovanni Maglia at the University of Groningen, a world leader in biological nanopore engineering and single-molecule protein/peptide analysis; and imec (Leuven), a global leader in solid-state nanopore fabrication and hybrid nanopore-electronic integration.

Together, the consortium aims to combine de novo protein design, biological nanopore sensing and solid-state nanofabrication into a new generation of hybrid nanopore sensors for single-molecule protein and peptide analysis.

• Engineer and characterise biological nanopores for the detection, identification and analysis of proteins and peptides, building on the Maglia lab’s nanopore sensing and electro-osmotic sequencing platforms.

• Collaborate with VUB-VIB to test, validate and adapt de novo-designed protein nanopores for functional single-molecule sensing applications.

• Collaborate with imec on the integration of biological/de novo nanopores with solid-state platforms towards scalable, hybrid nanopore devices.

• Design and perform single-molecule experiments (electrical recordings, possibly combined with optical/fluorescence readouts) to characterise pore behaviour and sensing performance.

• Contribute to project management and valorisation activities alongside the consortium partners, including reporting to the funding body and engagement with industrial stakeholders.

• Publish and present your findings in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences, and contribute to supervising PhD students and junior lab members.

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Apply no later than: 4 November 2026

Who are you?

• A PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Bionanotechnology or a related field, completed or nearly completed.

• Demonstrated experience with protein engineering, expression and purification; experience with membrane proteins, ion channels or nanopores is a strong advantage.

• Experience with single-molecule biophysical techniques (e.g. electrical/electrophysiological recordings, single-channel analysis, fluorescence-based single-molecule methods) is highly desirable.

• A strong record of scientific output relative to career stage (publications, conference contributions).

• Willingness to collaborate closely with partner labs in Brussels (VUB-VIB) and Leuven (imec), including travel for joint experiments and consortium meetings.

• Good written and spoken English; strong communication, organisational and mentoring skills.

What can you expect from us?

• In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 4.251 (salary scale 10.4) up to a maximum of € 4.763 (salary scale 10.6) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.

• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.

• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

• A fixed-term contract of 1.0 FTE for the duration of 36 months.

Where will you be working?

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse .

The Maglia lab at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB) is looking for a talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead the Groningen contribution to this project. The lab has pioneered single-molecule nanopore enzymology and the use of electro-osmotic flow for sequencing proteins, and has extensive experience engineering biological nanopores for protein and peptide sensing, including nanobody-functionalised nanopores, nanopore peptide spectroscopy, and detection of proteins directly in biological fluids.

You will work at the interface of the consortium’s expertise, engineering and characterising biological and hybrid nanopores for single-molecule protein/peptide sensing, and integrating de novo-designed pores (from VUB-VIB) and/or solid-state elements (from imec) into functional sensing platforms.

Part of a Strategic Basic Research (SBO) consortium with VUB-VIB Center for Structural Biology and IMEC.

Application procedure

• Your application : After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.
• Selection : The selection committee assesses your application and you will be notified as soon as possible whether you are invited for an interview.
• First interview : We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.
• Second interview and possible assessment or guest lecture : We may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.
• Terms of employment meeting : After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!

Application procedure

Step 1

Your

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.

Step 2

Selection

The selection committee assesses your application and you will be notified as soon as possible whether you are invited for an interview.

Step 3

First

We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.

Step 4

Second interview and possible assessment or guest lecture

We may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.

Step 5

Terms of employment meeting

After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!

Interested?

Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway.

Please add the following documents to your application

• CV.

• Cover letter.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

• Questions about the content of the job? Giovanni Maglia Full Professor giovanni.maglia@rug.nl

• Questions about your application process? Chienes Metus Managing Coordinator A.Metus@rug.nl

Information about applying

When scheduling meetings, we will take your schedule into account as much as possible.

The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy .

Acquisition is not appreciated.

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP Application Code.

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