Microelectronics for Microbiology

Life is all about electricity. Certain species of living cells are capable of directly exchange electrons with the surrounding for their metabolism. This remarkable feature of nature has recently gained much attention as a key link for achieving a true circular economy. Indeed, these so‐called bioelectrochemical systems where electricity is supplied to the cells via solid state electrodes and circuitry result in many novel but more importantly renewable bioprocesses. Many exciting products are enabled by this interface ranging from biosensors to self‐powered bioremediation systems and metal recovery technology. We are only on the forefront of this new and exciting evolution on the boundary between micro‐biology and micro‐electronics. However, in depth understanding on how electronic stimuli affect these microorganisms, and on how they are optimally exploited by intelligent electronics is unknown. Bioelectrochemical system control is thus far executed via rigid fixed current / fixed potential approaches. Thus, effective bioelectrochemical systems are in need for dynamic and embedded control which adapts at run‐time to the changing conditions around the microorganisms. This PhD project will, in collaboration with other PhD students in the bio‐engineering department, as well as in the electrical engineering department pursue the development of self‐adapting bioelectrical cells, with massively parallel anode and cathode arrays, with built‐in electrical measurement and stimulation circuitry. This requires a tight interplay between bio‐chemistry, micro‐electronic design, machine learning and control theory.