Open Position

Job Title: Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Engineer on Digital fabrication of edible materials (food printing)

Scope of the Research:

This research program intends to develop design principles, fabrication methods and instruments to create edible structures (i.e. foods). We combine additive manufacturing, microfluidics, electrospinning and in situ physio-chemical reactions to achieve unprecedented control over structures of printed foods. We explore functions of edible structures fabricated under digital control.

Currently demonstrated food printing technologies are relatively simple (e.g. printing out only a single material, such as chocolate printing). The majority of relevant works focus on (1) creating structures of foods by automation and (2) improving aesthetic quality of foods. We will adapt interdisciplinary approaches to investigate other unexplored dimensions of food printing. Examples include but not limited to:

• To fabricate well-defined micro and nanostructures
• To fabricate hierarchical structures with well-defined inner morphologies
• To investigate the relationship between structures and functions
• To develop methods/instruments of additive manufacturing applicable to specific classes of nutrients and macromolecules
• To automate the process of complex fabrication of foods
• To develop printing instruments intended for use in specific scenarios

The researcher will work in an interdisciplinary research team consisting of electrical, chemical and biomedical engineers, chemists and materials scientists.

Qualification, Skills, Experiences:

• Ph.D. (for postdocs) or M.S./B.S. (for research assistants) in chemistry, food science and engineering, polymer engineering, materials sciences and/or related fields
• Experiences in food printing
• Experiences in digital fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting, fluid dispensing)
• Experiences in design and manufacturing of scientific instruments
• Experiences in microfluidics, microfabrication
• Experiences in digital fabrication, CAD, and 3D drawing and modeling
• Good track record of scientific publications
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

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