Research Technician in Laser Spectroscopy Applied to Bioprocesses

As a Research Technician in Laser Spectroscopy Applied to Bioprocesses at TU Delft, you'll help implement laser technology to facilitate bioprocess research, advancing sustainability and biotechnological innovation.

Job description

This role is a fantastic opportunity to advance your career and contribute to research that could shape the future of biotechnology. Biotechnology is at the forefront of advancing sustainability and microbial fermentation holds immense potential in addressing global challenges in energy and the environment. One key area of focus is optimising bioprocesses for industrial applications. Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is pioneering innovative techniques to accelerate these developments, particularly by integrating real-time laser spectroscopic monitoring to enhance bioreactor performance.

As a Research Technician in Laser Spectroscopy Applied to Bioprocesses, you will be an integral part of an exciting collaboration between TU Delft and the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder). This partnership is focused on applying advanced off-gas laser spectroscopy to two major types of bioprocesses: microbial fermentation in suspension and biofilm-based microbial electrosynthesis. Your work as a laser technician will contribute to improving the understanding and optimisation of these processes, helping to make industrial biotechnology more efficient and sustainable.

You will work with cutting?'edge technologies, and your day?'to?'day responsibilities will include maintenance and troubleshooting of laser systems, and supporting hardware integration. Additionally, you will support sensor automation with additional computational hardware and can be involved in data analysis. You'll be part of an interdisciplinary team for 2.5 years, working closely with researchers, PhD candidates, postdocs and fellow technicians. This includes working together with bioprocess engineers at TU Delft and laser specialists at CU Boulder.

The research groups in which you will work focus on microbial physiology and the application of data?'driven bioprocess development. In your role, you will bridge the field of laser spectroscopy and biotechnology, having a meaningful societal impact in an interdisciplinary context.

Job requirements

You are an experienced lab technician who thrives in collaborative settings and enjoys creative problem?'solving within cutting?'edge research projects. With a strong technical background and a curious, proactive mindset, you will contribute to both the experimental and data?'driven aspects of the project. You work well in a multicultural team and can share theoretical knowledge and technical know?'how with team members at every level.

You also have:

• A laser engineer with a Higher Professional Education diploma (HBO or higher), coming from the field of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics or a similar discipline.
• Theoretical knowledge of laser spectroscopy
• Experience maintaining and handling lasers (hardware and software)
• Knowledge of spectroscopy technologies, such as FT?'IR or Raman, or a clear motivation to learn.
• Hands?'on experience in a laboratory setting.
• Motivation to apply laser technology to biotechnology in an interdisciplinary context
• A good command of English, as the work will be conducted in an international setting. Proficiency in Dutch would be an asset but is not required.

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 Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum?' and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground?'breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 20 November 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Motivation letter (1 page)
• 2?'page CV in Dutch or English.

You can address your application to Dr. Marcel Vieira?'Lara, Assistant Professor. The interviews will be conducted on the 8th and 10th of December, which may be preceded by a short video call.

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.