PhD in Nanotechnology

Minimally invasive interventions increasingly require tools capable of sensing, actuation, and manipulation at sub-millimetre scales. Micro-robotic systems enable highly miniaturized devices that can operate in confined anatomical environments and interact with biological tissue with high spatial precision./nThis PhD project focuses on the development of surgical micro-robotic devices, with emphasis on micro- and nano-fabrication and optical technologies for sensing, actuation, and control. The research includes the design, fabrication, and experimental validation of micro-scale robotic platforms, integration of optical and imaging-based feedback, and development of modeling and control strategies for operation in complex biological environments. Particular attention will be given to scalable fabrication and integration of photonic sensing or actuation./nThe project is conducted within the Surgical Robotics Laboratory and the Department of Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Twente, in close collaboration with the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and clinical and international partners.