Postdoc in organic bioelectronics

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented postdoctoral researcher to join our team in developing novel organic bioelectronic electrodes for interfacing with the nervous system. This position is part of the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet)-funded project “PolyKinetics” and is based in the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at Linköping University, Sweden. As part of this project, you will also engage in collaborative research and undertake research visits with our partners at the Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Italy.

Research area

In PolyKinetics, we aim to revolutionize neural interfaces by developing in situ polymerized electrodes to overcome critical challenges, such as scar tissue formation and poor biocompatibility. Building on our groundbreaking work on enzyme-triggered electrode fabrication in animal models (Strakosas et al., Science, 2023; https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adc9998), this project leverages enzymatic polymerization to create soft, substrate-free, conducting materials directly in living tissues.

This work focuses on advancing the understanding of polymerization kinetics, expanding the enzyme repertoire, and designing custom enzymes to improve electrode performance and localization. These advancements will lay the foundation for bioelectronic interfaces with exceptional biocompatibility, functionality, and transformative potential for neural therapies.

The successful candidate will have strong problem-solving skills, be able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary and international team and have excellent communication abilities. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the interface between chemistry, biology, and electronics in the highly collaborative and supportive Laboratory of Organic Electronics (https://www.liu.se/loe).

Your work will primarily be under the guidance of Prof. Daniel Simon (https://liu.se/en/employee/dansi08), Organic Bioelectronics group leader at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, with significant additional guidance by Assoc. Prof. Carlo Bortolotti at UNIMORE (https://personale.unimore.it/Rubrica/dettaglio/cabortol).

If you are passionate about advancing the field of organic bioelectronics and meet the qualifications, we encourage you to apply and become a part of this transformative research journey.

Duties and key responsibilities

As a postdoc in PolyKinetics, you will:

• Investigate the kinetics of enzymatic polymerization processes in biological environments.
• Expand and tailor enzyme repertoires to optimize functionality and electrode performance.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary and international team, including research visits to UNIMORE.
• Contribute to translational research with applications in neural interfaces and therapies.

This work will involve various materials and electrical characterization methods (potentially including electrochemistry, multiple microscopy modalities, quartz microbalance, impedance spectroscopy) as well as surface modification and characterization and protein chemistry (potentially including expression and purification, and cloning of chimeric genes).

You will also be tasked with producing comprehensive reports/presentations and contributing to manuscript preparation efforts as part of a highly motivated team and in collaboration with high-profile international partners.

As postdoc, you will principally carry out research. A certain amount of teaching may be part of your duties, up to a maximum of 20% of working hours.

Qualifications

To be qualified to take employment as postdoc, you must have been awarded a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree.  This degree must have been awarded at the latest by the point at which LiU makes its decision to employ you.

It is considered advantageous if your doctoral degree is no older than three years at application deadline for this job. If there are special reasons for having an older doctoral degree – such as taking statutory leave – then these may be taken into consideration.

The following education, experience, and expertise are required:

• A PhD in biomedical engineering, (bio-)physics, applied physics, materials science, (organic) chemistry, or equivalent
• Electrical or electrochemical characterization of materials or devices
• Experimental design and electrical characterization of device performance and associated data analysis
• Peer-reviewed publication as first or lead author
• Demonstrated scientific presentation skills
• Written and oral proficiency in English (all activities at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics are conducting in English)

In addition, the following areas are of particular merit:

• Experience with organic (bio)electronics, implant design, and/or conducting polymers (ideally all areas of expertise listed)
• Experience with protein chemistry and investigation of enzyme kinetics
• Experience with multiple electrochemical methods
• Experience with radical polymerization chemistry
• Experience working with hydrogel or soft material systems and/or tissue models

And the following areas are of additional merit:

• Experience in cleanroom facilities
• Experience with photolithographic microfabrication, additive manufacturing (g., 3D printing), printed electronics, and/or assembly of micro-devices (ideally all areas of expertise listed)
• Experience with gene cloning, recombinant protein production and purification, characterization
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience in producing comprehensive, high-standard reports and data visualization, and contributing to manuscript writing

Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and suitability.

The workplace

This position will be at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE, liu.se/loe) where we explore electronic and optical properties of organic semiconductors, biomaterials from the forest, and hybrid organic materials. LOE shares a common interest in exploiting the combination of electronic and ionic charge for use in energy, internet-of-things, health care and biology applications. Research topics include synthesis, material science, theory and modeling, device physics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and system design, and span the range from basic research to commercialization. LOE currently has >150 researchers and research students divided into eleven units sharing an open lab environment for fruitful collaboration and information sharing. 

You will formally be part of LOE’s Organic Bioelectronics group (liu.se/en/research/organic-bioelectronics) where we investigate transduction between electronic signals and ionic/molecular signals in electroactive surfaces, “iontronic” chemical delivery and circuitry, biosensors, mimicking neural function, and many other areas. LOE is part of Linköping University’s Department of Science and Technology, located on the river Motala Ström at Campus Norrköping. You can read more about Norrköping here: https://visit-norrkoping-se.translate.goog/bo-studera

For more general information on the Swedish academic landscape including some aspects of life as a postdoc, we strongly recommend skimming through the Young Academy of Sweden’s “Beginner’s Guide to Swedish Academia” https://sverigesungaakademi.se/en/publications/book-a-beginners-guide-to-swedish-academia-2/

The employment

This employment is a temporary contract of two years with the possibility of extension up to a total maximum of three years. The employment is full-time. Starting date by agreement.

Salary and employment benefits

The University applies individual salary scales adapted to the experience of the employee and to the labour market. Postdoc salaries at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics start around 42 000 SEK/month before tax. As an employee of Linköping University, you are entitled to the following benefits:

• Paid vacation (28 workdays per year, corresponding to 5 ½ weeks).
• Free access to the Swedish health-care system (full health-care coverage).
• Paid maternity / paternity leave (up to 390 days per child).
• Accrued pension. During your work time in Sweden, you accrue income pension, paid by the employer, which is payable also if you leave Sweden.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University are available at  https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/employee-benefits

More information on the Swedish social insurance benefits system can be found at https://www.forsakringskassan.se/english/moving-to-working-studying-or-newly-arrived-in-sweden/social-insurance-system  

More information about employee benefits is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button. Your application must be received no later than September 12, 2025. 
 
Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.