Postdoctoral Fellowship: Postdoc Cell Engineering for Cultivated Meat

About the Role

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scientist in Cell Engineering for Cultivated Meat to join the Flack Group within the Faculty of Applied Sciences. This fully funded position is part of the Cellular Agriculture Netherlands Open Calls Programme and involves close collaboration with industrial partners and external experts.

‘Cultivated meat’ – the production of genuine meat products from in vitro culture of animal cells – is an emerging biotechnology with the potential to revolutionise food production from environmental and ethical perspectives. However, unmodified higher eukaryotic cells present major scalability and cost-effectiveness challenges, including limited lifespans, slow proliferation, demanding medium requirements, and adherent growth preference. Cell engineering offers solutions to these problems.

Responsibilities

• Engineer and evolve bovine satellite cell lines to achieve new and improved phenotypes (e.g., suspension culture, signalling pathway activation, extended cellular lifespan).
• Characterise engineered cell lines using flow cytometry, microscopy, and transcriptomics.
• Propose and pursue independent research projects within the scope of cell engineering for cultivated meat.
• Supervise PhD, MSc, and BSc students in the group.
• Develop skills in grant writing and funding acquisition.
• Collaborate with industrial partners and external experts as part of the research programme.

Requirements

• 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).
• Experience with mammalian cell culture is desirable but not mandatory; candidates with a strong background in bacterial or yeast engineering who are eager to apply their knowledge to cultivated meat will also be considered.
• Experience with microscopy, transcriptomics, or metabolomics (highly desirable).
• Strong collaboration, communication, and project management skills.
• Ambitious, independent researcher attitude with the ability to take initiative.

What We Offer

• Initial contract duration of 2 years (temporary).
• Employment for 36–40 hours per week.
• Salary range €3,546 – €5,538 per month, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Excellent pension scheme via ABP.
• Annual individual employment package and flexible working week.
• 232 leave hours per year (based on 38 hours) with option to buy or sell additional hours.
• Opportunities for education, training, and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave and vitality programme.
• Relocation support via the Coming to Delft Service, including a Dual Career Programme for accompanying partners.

Working Environment

TU Delft is an international community of professionals and students dedicated to creating knowledge, innovations, and solutions that move the world forward. The Faculty of Applied Sciences employs over 1,100 staff and 3,600 students, focusing on key enabling technologies such as biotechnology, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and quantum technologies. The Flack Group is friendly and collaborative, with broad interests in biotechnology and synthetic biology across all domains of life.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the TU Delft application portal no later than 2 August 2026. Please address your application to Dr. Joshua Flack and upload the following documents only:

• CV (maximum 4 pages)
• Cover letter (maximum 2 pages)

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a short task during the week of 3 August 2026. If you are unavailable that week, you must apply by 19 July 2026 and contact Dr. Flack by email to arrange alternative arrangements. Applications sent by email or post will not be processed. As part of TU Delft’s knowledge security policy, a risk assessment may be conducted at the final stages of the selection process. The position is expected to start around the end of 2026.

Original vacancy