Open position to work on New paradigms and New Devices based on Nanomechanics

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The candidate should have a degree in Physics. Minimum overall score of 2 in a scale ranging from 1 to 4. Previous experience in laboratory research will be positively evaluated but it is not required. The candidate must show enthusiasm, high motivation and capability to learn new topics.

Description

The aim of this PhD project is the development of new NEMS devices and new sensing paradigms to achieve the ultimate limits in biological detection based on nanomechanics. Silicon nanowires together carbon nanotubes represent the ultimate limit in the minituarization of nanomechanical resonators. It is expected that these devices can be applied for ultrasensitive mass sensing at the sub-zeptogram level and for mass spectroscopy of single biomolecules. However, the achievement of the optimal performance of these devices requires a detailed understanding of the nanomechanical response and a major development of the optical instrumentation for the detection of the picometer scale vibrations. In this PhD project advanced optical instrumentation and modeling of the nanomechanical and optical response of the silicon nanowires will be developed. Finite element simulations and analytical models will be developed in order to describe how the static and dynamic response of nanomechanical systems with different geometries behaves when subject to biological adsorption. The final aim will be to establish the potential for weighing single biomolecules and measuring molecular recognition at the level of few events which has relevant implications in the early diagnosis of diseases as cancer, Alzheimer's or diabetes.

The work will be developed in a multidisciplinary environment with experts in nanomechanics, nanotechnology, nanofabrication and chemistry. The work involves experimental and theoretical skills, instrumentation design and nanomechanical characterization and modeling.

Biomechanics Lab in the workshop Feria Ciencia en el Barrio 2024

Juan Molina and Adrian Sanz from the Bionanomechanics group of the Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology – CSIC visit the workshops carried out by high school students at the Ciencia en el Barrio 2024 as part of the events organized by CSIC-Divulga. The workshop: “Nanobalances for weighing viruses and bacteria,” in which the students of…

Bionanomechanics Lab IMN CSIC

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