Postdoctoral Position: Experimental study of biofilm growth under turbulent flow

Location: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona, Spain

Duration: 1 year, renewable

Start date: As soon as possible

Project Overview

In the context of a project funded by the Spanish Research Agency, we are launching a new combined modeling and experimental effort to investigate how microbial biofilms and bacterial colonies grow under turbulent and unsteady flow conditions. Our goal is to understand how flow structures — from laminar shear to turbulence — influence nutrient transport, growth morphology, adaptation and detachment of microbial communities.

Your Role

The postdoctoral researcher will:

• Design and build the core components of the experimental facility (recirculating flow loop, observation chamber, imaging setup).
• Develop experimental protocols for safe handling of non-pathogenic (BSL-1) microorganisms.
• Implement and validate imaging and measurement strategies.
• Collaborate with imaging and microbiology core facilities in the Barcelona area.
• Analyze data and integrate results with computational models developed in the host group.
• Publish results in high-impact journal papers and present them at international conferences.
• Co-supervise PhD students.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a motivated experimentalist with the following qualifications:

• PhD in experimental fluid mechanics, microbiology, or bioengineering (or closely related field).
• Proven experience with laboratory flow systems and imaging methods.
• Interest in interdisciplinary research involving biological systems.
• Familiarity with microbiological methods (culturing, sterile work).
• Skills in programming and data processing (MATLAB, Python, Julia).

Environment

The position is based at the Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE), a UPC campus with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research, innovation, and knowledge transfer, located in the vibrant city of Barcelona. The project will be carried out within the Department of Fluid Mechanics, in a young and dynamic research environment dedicated to advancing high-quality work in fluid dynamics and modeling. The host team has an established record of interdisciplinary research at the interface between fluid mechanics and biological systems, combining theoretical, computational and experimental approaches. This position offers an excellent opportunity to build a new experimental platform from the ground up, working in close synergy with computational modelers and fostering collaborations across engineering and life sciences, both locally and internationally.

How to apply

Send a CV (max 2 pages), a short statement of interest (max 1 page) and contacts of two references to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.