项目介绍

2026年4月8日

We are modifying a high end microscope to be able to see inside non transparent material. You will work on a key part: constructing accurate digital models to compensate for scattering.

With wavefront shaping, you can focus light through non-transparent materials. Since the invention of wavefront shaping at the University of Twente, many applications have arisen, ranging from quantum security to microscopy.

The key challenge of wavefront shaping is to find out exactly how to shape the light to form a focus. Traditionally, this is done through iterative algorithms (‘trial and error’). In this project, we aim to develop a radically different approach where the correct shape is computed using a 3-D model of the non-transparent structure. Using this approach, we aim to build a microscope that can look inside very complex materials without loss of image quality.

Your role is to build flexible 3-D ray-traced models of the structures, based on STL files, 3-D voxel data and other input. You work closely with the rest of the team to integrate your models with the microscope hardware and GUI, with advanced machine-learning algorithms, and with lightning-fast Maxwell solvers for scattering simulations.

You will not only work on the 3-D models in theory; you will also be trained in operating advanced microscopy systems and directly test your models in experiments. Your research will help microscope users to see inside their samples without cutting them to pieces and thus have a direct impact on their daily work.

Your profile

• You have a broad interest, including in biology, microscopy, and 3-D computer graphics.
• You like to work in a multidisciplinary team and work together with biologists to solve challenging imaging problems.
• You are able to write high-quality scientific code (the development will be done in Python).
• You are able to understand physical principles and mathematical equations, and translate them into computer code.
• Experience in 3-D modelling, ray-tracing, or 3-D image segmentation is a pre.
• Experience in collaborative software development is a pre.
• You have a MSc degree.

Our offer

• A full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year.
• The university of Twente is uniquely located on a green campus near the border with Germany. You have free access to excellent sports facilities (gym, swimming pools, etc.) on campus, and you can join one or more of the 100+ sport- or cultural associations.

Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).

• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 3.059,-  (first year) to € 3.881,- (fourth year) plus a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• The University of Twente is an equal opportunities and family-friendly institution. The university offers both paid and unpaid parental leave.
• You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the ‘Apply now’ button below before May 20, and include:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, motivations to apply for this position. Applications with a non-specific motivation letter will not be taken into consideration.
• A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references.
• Links to representative code you (co-)developed, e.g. on GitHub. Alternatively, you may upload a zipped archive of one of your projects.
• The names of at least two references we can contact.
• Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS-test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, internet. TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Ivo Vellekoop (i.m.vellekoop@utwente.nl)

Screening is part of the selection procedure.