Internships
Within our group, we are always looking for interested students that want to do an internship with us. Have a look at our research pages to get an idea of the projects you can work on during an internship. We accept students from numerous backgrounds, ranging from physics to chemistry, or (medical) biology.
The use of breath analysis to investigate the effect of dietary supplements on ADHD in children
Start date: August - September 2025
Level: MSc
For the 2nd BRAIN project, we are looking for a hands-on Master's student to perform mass spectrometry analysis of exhaled breath samples collected from participating children who are diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is a developmental disorder characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It has been shown that a few-foods diet (FFD) has a positive (i.e. reducing) impact on ADHD symptoms. By using exhaled breath, we want to provide a non-invasive alternative to monitor the effect of such diet on ADHD symptoms. During this internship, you will work on 1) literature research on ADHD and dietary interventions 2) exhaled breath analysis of supplied samples with mass spectrometry and laser spectroscopy and 3) multivariate analysis to elucidate affected biochemical pathways. After this internship, we hope to have gained more insight into how the mechanistic works behind dietary intervention and ADHD across the gut-brain axis.
If you are interested, please contact dr. Joris Meurs (joris.meurs@ru.nl).
Elucidating the volatile stress response of the poultry red mite
Start date: September – October 2025
Level: BSc or MSc
In the OBSeRVeD project, we are working on whether we can detect different health problems in chickens based on measuring volatile organic compounds, such as odor molecules. Among others, we investigate infestations in laying hen farms by a parasite called the poultry red mite, which causes animal welfare and health problems. Ongoing research shows that the volatiles and thus the odors may be very different when the mites are subjected to different circumstances. We want to elucidate the effect of different stressors on this odor profile. An internship in this topic will include field and lab work and data analysis of GC-MS datasets. A BSc internship will likely mostly focus on one sampling round. An MSc internship will encompass lab and field work, as well as experimental design, testing different measuring methods and processing complex datasets.
If you are interested, please contact Pascalle Deenekamp (Pascalle.deenekamp@ru.nl) or (between April and June 2025) dr. Joris Meurs (joris.meurs@ru.nl).
Odor-based detection of enteric diseases in chickens
Start date: October 2025 and later
Level: MSc
In the OBSeRVeD project, we are working on whether we can detect different health problems in chickens through detecting volatile organic compounds (VOC), such as odorous molecules, in the air. Enteric diseases, or diseases in the gut, are a major problem for poultry production worldwide. Earlier detection of such diseases would enable more effective treatment and less impact on the chicken health and welfare. We are working together with other universities to elucidate the changes happening in the gut when a certain type of disease, coccidiosis caused by the Eimeria parasite, is present. Our focus is on the VOC shifts, but this is coupled to other researchers’ findings on the chicken metabolome and microbiome. A series of clinical trials is planned to take place in late 2025. An internship on this topic can entail lab and field work, experimental design, working with multiple analysis methods and analysis of complex datasets, as well as participating in the collaboration between research groups of multiple universities.
If you are interested, please contact Pascalle Deenekamp (Pascalle.deenekamp@ru.nl) or (between April and June 2025) dr. Joris Meurs (joris.meurs@ru.nl).
Analysis of complex GC-MS datasets
Start date: anytime
Level: BSc
Are you interested in data analysis and have a strong affinity with programming language like MATLAB or Python? We currently have an internship available where we are looking to process complex datasets as part of the DEDICATION, OBSeRVeD, BENIGN, and Synergia projects.
If you are interested please contact: dr. Joris Meurs (joris.meurs@ru.nl)
Multispecies open-path molecular absorption spectroscopy
Start date: anytime
Level: MSc
Are you an enthusiastic student in Physics and Astronomy, Molecular Sciences, or related fields who is looking for a Master’s internship? Are you keen on developing or working with novel scientific instruments? Would you like to learn new concepts of laser spectroscopy and use them in real-life research? Then you have a part to play as an intern in our research group. Join us, learn how things work in laser spectroscopy, and gain hands-on experience in the lab and in the field!
If you are interested, please contact: Roderik Krebbers (Roderik.Krebbers@science.ru.nl)
Modelling of emission fluxes from spectroscopic data
Start date: anytime
Level: MSc
Emissions of “nitrogen” species, such as ammonia or nitrogen oxides, or emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide: it is an extremely relevant and hot topic which pops up in the news almost daily. However, substantial data of the actual deposition or emission of these gases in/from an area remain challenging to this data. Within our group, we have worked on a novel system, with which we can measure the concentration of such gases in an open, outdoor area. The system is based on a laser which is sent over a free, outdoor path. The absorption of light can be used to acquire information on the concentration of the molecules in the air, in that area, at that specific moment. While that is a known and proven method for quantifying concentrations in the air, the translation of this data to emission fluxes from an area (so the rate of emission of a certain gas in for example kg/hour) remains challenging. In this project, we will use data acquired by our group at a waste-water facility (see figure) to calculate the emissions of nitrogen gases and greenhouse gases from the plant. Part of the internship could be to find and try out different methods and models for these calculations, such as inverse dispersion modelling, total mass balance calculations, and more.
If you are interested, please contact: Roderik Krebbers (Roderik.Krebbers@science.ru.nl)
Development of a mass spectrometry strategy for detecting formaldehyde in exhaled breath
Start date: TBD
Level: MSc
Formaldehyde exposure is a major problem for human health. Many consumer products as cosmetics, clothing, and furniture are sources of formaldehyde. Studies have shown that longitudinal exposure causes nose cancer and potentially leukaemia. Furthermore, it has been shown in a rat study that formaldehyde can be adsorbed through the skin. However, formaldehyde is a tricky molecule to measure as it is very reactive and can potentially form dimers in biological systems. Current methods for formaldehyde In this project, the aim is to investigate the use of selective reagent ion – time-of-flight – mass spectrometry (SRI-ToF-MS) for detection of formaldehyde in exhaled breath as a non-invasive alternative. During this project, the following questions need to be answered:
- Develop a feasible strategy for formaldehyde detection in exhaled breath
- Determine the detection limit of formaldehyde in exhaled breath
- Establish background levels of formaldehyde in the air
If you are interested, please contact: dr. Joris Meurs (joris.meurs@ru.nl)
More background?
- Bartnik, F. G.; Gloxhuber, C.; Zimmermann, V. Percutaneous Absorption of Formaldehyde in Rats. Toxicology Letters 1985, 25, 167–172.
- Winkowski, M.; Stacewicz, T. Optical Detection of Formaldehyde in Air in the 3.6 Μm Range. Biomedical Optics Express 2020, 11 (12), 7019.
- Riess, U.; Tegtbur, U.; Fauck, C.; Fuhrmann, F.; Markewitz, D.; Salthammer, T. Experimental Setup and Analytical Methods for the Non-Invasive Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds, Formaldehyde and NO in Exhaled Human Breath. Analytica Chimica Acta 2010, 669 (1–2), 53–62.
Microcantilevers for chemical detection
Start date: anytime
Level: MSc
Miniaturized sensors have been in particular interest in the recent years, thanks to the advancement of technology in miniaturization of optical, electrical and mechanical systems.
One of the popular miniaturized platforms for sensing is a microcantilever (MCL). A MCL is a miniaturized beam constrained at one end with the other end extending freely outwards. An external stimulus causes the MCL to bend or oscillate in a static or a dynamic mode, respectively. In the static mode, the displacement of the MCL due to a load or intrinsic stress generated on or within the MCL is measured. In the dynamic mode, an external actuation (piezoelectric, magnetic, or electrostatic actuator) causes the MCL to oscillate at its natural (resonant) frequency. Any change in the load or mass of the MCL results in a change in frequency that is subsequently measured.
To allow chemical sensing, the MCL surface is coated with a probe coating (functionalized surface). Specific analytes are then adsorbed by specific coatings. The amount of target material is measured by monitoring a change in the MCLs natural frequency. For example, as more target analyte attaches to the surfaces, the MCL gain mass and its resonant frequency decreases. The higher the frequency shift, the greater the amount of accumulated mass. The data is then processed and the concentration of analyte is determined.
For this project, we are looking for an enthusiastic Msc student from Physics, Physical Chemistry, or Science who likes to work in the lab for testing and validation of a basic MCL sensor in a proof-of-principle experiment. This includes the external oscillation of a MCL with an activated surface with and without adsorbing a specific analyte. The main goal is to gain insights in how the MCL technology works for biosensing (i.e. detection of relevant biomarkers (in the gas or liquid phase) and potentially bacteria and viruses).
In our group we have a starting kit with several MCLs from commercial suppliers and simple electrical readouts. You will do this research at the Life Science Trace Detection Laboratory (TDLab, www.ru.nl/TDLab), Dept of Analytical Chemistry & Chemometrics (IMM, FNWI). This research is a collaboration between the TDLab and the Saxion Hogeschool (Enschede, Applied Nanotechnology).
If you are interested, please contact: Roderik Krebbers (Roderik.Krebbers@science.ru.nl)