Summary
The PhD candidate will join the 5-year “EcoDropLab” project, which focuses on developing a sustainable and accessible droplet-based microfluidics platform for biological and environmental research, with a particular focus on microplastic-related microbial processes. This includes studying how microplastics influence bacterial aggregation, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial resistance, as well as enabling screening of antimicrobial and antibiofilm compounds. The project combines a wide range of approaches, including droplet-based microfluidic workflows, 3D-printed lab-on-a-chip systems, experimental work in biology and chemistry, microscopy-based analysis, and materials science aspects related to microplastics and device development. Within this framework, the candidate will contribute to selected aspects of the project and have the opportunity to shape their research direction based on their background and interests. The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary environment combining microbiology, chemistry, engineering, and materials science, collaborating across departments and with international partners.
The research
The goal of this PhD project is to contribute to the development and application of a sustainable and accessible droplet-based microfluidic platform for biological and environmental research. This includes work on microfluidic workflows, lab-on-a-chip system development, and related experimental and materials components, with applications in microbial and environmental processes. This PhD position is offered by the Microfluidics Lab at the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at TalTech, in close collaboration with the Lab-on-a-Chip group at the Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics.
The prospective PhD project encompasses several research directions, and the specific focus will be defined based on the candidate’s background and interests. Potential direction include:
• Development of droplet-based microfluidic workflows for biological and environmental studies
• Investigation of antimicrobial and antibiofilm compounds using droplet-based microfluidics
• Design and development of 3D-printed lab-on-a-chip devices and their integration into workflows
• Working with materials science aspects related to microplastics and microfluidic device development
Droplet-based microfluidic applications are rapidly expanding in biological and environmental research. Encapsulation of samples into microdroplets enables high-throughput, parallelized, and confined analysis of complex systems, surpassing conventional methods such as flasks, petri dishes, and microtiter plates. This approach is particularly promising for studying complex microbial and environmental processes, including those involving microplastics, where reproducibility, environmental relevance, and standardization remain key challenges. Current approaches are often low-throughput and lack integrated, flexible tools for such studies. At the same time, many microfluidic platforms rely on non-sustainable materials and require specialized expertise, limiting their accessibility. There is therefore a need for sustainable, standardized, and user-friendly microfluidic platforms that support robust and broadly applicable research across disciplines.
Responsibilities and (foreseen) tasks
Within the project framework, the PhD candidate will contribute to a range of research activities, with the exact focus shaped by their background and interests. Potential key activities include: • Working on droplet-based microfluidic workflows for biological and environmental research • Participating in experimental work, including laboratory-based studies and microfluidic assays • Supporting the screening and evaluation of antimicrobial and antibiofilm compounds
• Contributing to the design and development of lab-on-a-chip systems, including 3D-printed devices
• Working with materials science related to microplastics and microfluidic device development
• Analyzing and interpreting experimental data, including microscopy imaging and related analysis
Additional responsibilities include
• Contributing to scientific publications and dissemination of results (e.g. international conferences, outreach activities)
• Assisting in supervision of bachelor and master students and contributing to teaching activities • Collaborating with researchers across disciplines and partner institutions
Applicants should fulfil the following requirements
• A master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. biotechnology, microbiology, chemistry, materials science, or a related discipline)
• Experience with basic laboratory work and experimental techniques
• Clear interest in the highly interdisciplinary research topic of the position
• Ability to work both independently and as part of an international and collaborative research team • Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Good written and oral communication skills in English
The following experience is beneficial, but not expected:
• Experience with microfluidics (especially droplet-based systems)
• Background in biofilm research, antimicrobial resistance, and/or microplastic-related studies • Experience with 3D printing, materials science, or device fabrication
• Experience with microscopy and/or image analysis
• Experience with data analysis or basic programming skills
We offer
• 4-year PhD position in a leading technological research University in Estonia that is also its most international university
• Opportunities for conference visits, research stays and interdisciplinary networking with international collaborators
• We offer a starting salary package with 23000 EUR/year gross, with potential for increase depending on performance
• Position comes with full social and medical benefits in Estonia
About the department
The Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology (DCB) is developing solutions to the great challenges of the 21st century – climate change, environmental protection, carbon neutrality, renewable energy and biodiversity conservation. DCB has offered high level interdisciplinary research training in the field for over 100 years. The department has long history in providing hands-on education in the fields of chemistry, biotechnology, gene technology and food sciences
Contact and application information
Application deadline: 30th of June 2026
Please send following application data in a single pdf to simona.bartkova@taltech.ee I) CV, II) Motivation letter, including proposed PhD project directions
PS! Combined pdf file cannot exceed 3 A4 pages, longer applications will not be considered