Postdoc Cell Engineering for Cultivated Meat

Job Description

'Cultivated meat', the production of genuine meat products from in vitro culture of animal cells, is an emerging biotechnology within the field of cellular agriculture with the potential to revolutionise food production from both an environmental and ethical perspective. Unfortunately, higher eukaryotic cells in their unmodified state have severe limitations with respect to in vitro culture, presenting major challenges for the scalability and cost-effectiveness of cultivated meat bioprocesses. These include limited cellular lifespans, slow proliferation rates, demanding medium requirements and a preference for adherent growth, amongst others.

Cell engineering can solve these problems! We are hiring for multiple postdoctoral scientists to join the group for fully-funded projects of (an initial) 2 years. Within the Flack group, you will engineer and evolve bovine satellite cell lines with a variety of new and improved phenotypes, relating to (for example) suspension culture, signalling pathway activation and cellular lifespan. Once new cell lines have been engineered, you will characterise them using a wide variety of methods, including flow cytometry, microscopy and transcriptomics.

Within the scope of cell engineering for cultivated meat, there will be freedom to select and suggest your own research projects, and to become acquainted with new techniques and approaches. There will be ample opportunities to supervise PhD, MSc and BSc students in the group, and to become familiar with grant writing and funding acquisition. Careers advice and discussion will be available for both academic and industry-minded scientists. We are a friendly, collaborative group and are looking for highly motivated candidates with strong project management and communication skills. You will be joining a dynamic department with broad interests in biotechnology and synthetic biology across all domains of life.

The research is funded as part of the Cellular Agriculture Netherlands Open Calls Programme, and will involve collaboration and coordination with various industrial parties and external experts.

For more information, please refer to the Flack Group website and/or get in touch.

Job Requirements

The ideal candidate will be an ambitious, independent researcher looking to make the next step in their career. We are looking for the following:

• PhD in cell biology, synthetic biology or a related field of biological sciences (essential).
• Strong background in molecular biology, cloning and genetic manipulation (essential).
• Prior experience with gene editing and/or cell engineering (e.g. CRISPR/Cas or related techniques - essential).
• Expertise with mammalian cell culture is desirable (but not mandatory, a strong background in bacterial or yeast engineering will also be considered if you're eager to apply that knowledge towards cultivated meat!).
• Experience in relevant related techniques such as microscopy, transcriptomics or metabolomics (highly desirable).
• Strong collaboration, communication and project management skills.

Conditions of Employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• 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.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional Information

For more information about this vacancy or our research group, please contact Dr. Joshua Flack ([email protected]). Position is envisaged to start around the end of 2026.

Application Procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 2 August 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents only:

• CV (max 4 pages)
• Cover letter (max 2 pages).

The next step in the process, if you are selected, will involve the completion of a short task in the week of 3rd August. If you know you will not be available in that week, you should apply by 19th July and contact Josh by email to make special arrangements.

You can address your application to Dr. Joshua Flack.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
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