PhD Position - Engineering Edible Bioinks for Cellular Agriculture

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Are you passionate about biomaterials, biofabrication, and sustainable food technologies? In this PhD position, you will contribute to cutting-edge research on edible bioinks for cultured meat, working at the intersection of materials science, cellular agriculture, and 3D bioprinting. 

PhD Position - Engineering Edible Bioinks for Cellular Agriculture  

Our goal: This project aims to advance sustainable protein production by developing innovative edible bioinks that enable the 3D bioprinting of structurally accurate bovine meat constructs. The research is embedded in the FAB4FUTURE consortium, bringing together academic and industrial partners.  

Your colleagues: You will join the MERLN Institute and work within a multidisciplinary team spanning the IBE and CTR departments. Your colleagues include experts in biomaterials, polymer chemistry, cell biology, bioengineering, and food technology, as well as collaborators from partner universities and industry.  

What you do 

As a PhD candidate, you will play a key role in designing, developing, and characterizing advanced bioinks for cellular agriculture, contributing to both fundamental understanding and applied biofabrication technologies.  

• Design and engineer hydrogel-based bioinks for bovine cultured meat constructs  

• Develop bioinks with tunable mechanical and biological properties  

• Characterize and modify biomaterials to support cell growth and structural integrity  

• Explore and optimize 3D bioprinting strategies for tissue-engineered meat  

• Study material–cell interactions in biofabrication contexts  

• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary research and innovation consortium  

• Present and publish research findings in scientific venues  

Are you ready to help shape the future of sustainable food production? Then we’d love to meet you.  

What you bring  
We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this? 

• Strong background in materials science, polymer engineering, or a related field  

• Experience with soft matter engineering and polymer characterization techniques  

• Affinity with biomaterials, bioinks, and biofabrication technologies  

• Interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface of materials science, biology, and food technology  

• Excellent command of scientific English; Dutch is not required  

What we offer 
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 12-month contract (1,0 fte) with the prospect of a 3 year extension.
• A gross monthly salary between €3059,00 and €3881,00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well-being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Dr. Matthew Baker via m.baker@maastrichtuniversity.nl. The end date of the publication is 22 may 2026.

Apply now via the button below and submit: 

• A cover letter including your motivation and your relevant experience 
• A CV 
• The names of two people who could provide a reference 

We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.