PhD Bioprocess Technologist: Automate Bioreactors

NZZone; Muttenz; Remote; CHF 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sports program

Cultural lectures and events

Equal pay commitments

Promoting doctoral projects

Flexible working hours with telework

Job summary

FHNW, located in Muttenz, Switzerland, is seeking a PhD student to rethink antibody and viral vector production, designing, building and automating bioreactor setups with pumps, sensors and peripheral equipment. You will also develop upstream processes and validate new technologies through mammalian cell cultures and data analysis.

The role involves close collaboration with industrial partners, a strong emphasis on hands-on experimental work, and dissemination of results through publications and

Qualifications

• MSc degree in biochemistry, bioprocess engineering, biotechnology, chemical or process engineering or a related field.
• Excellent scientific and technical track record; demonstrated experience building or modifying lab equipment and setups.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture technology, antibody or viral vector expression and purification.
• Hands-on experience with pumps and filtration systems in a bioprocess or process engineering context.
• Experience with sensors, data acquisition and/or process automation.
• Solid programming skills (Python, MATLAB, C/C++ or similar).
• A structured, independent and solution-oriented way of working, with a passion for applied research and technical innovation.
• Team player who enjoys working in an international, interdisciplinary environment with industrial partners.
• Excellent written and spoken English; German is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and automate bioreactor setups, integrating pumps, flow sensors and peripheral equipment.
• Develop and operate cell retention and filtration systems for perfusion and TFF processes.
• Develop device communication, data acquisition and process control.
• Run mammalian cell cultivations and analyze the data to validate new technologies and control strategies.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues and propose creative technical solutions.
• Present your results in scientific publications, at international conferences and to industrial partners.

Skills

Lab automation

Bioprocess engineering

Mammalian cell culture

Data acquisition

Process automation

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Teamwork

English

Education

MSc in biochemistry/bioprocess engineering/biotechnology or related field

Tools

Pumps

Filtration systems

Sensors

Data acquisition hardware

Lab automation software

Job description

FHNW, located in Muttenz, Switzerland, is seeking a PhD student to rethink antibody and viral vector production, designing, building and automating bioreactor setups with pumps, sensors and peripheral equipment. You will also develop upstream processes and validate new technologies through mammalian cell cultures and data analysis.

The role involves close collaboration with industrial partners, a strong emphasis on hands-on experimental work, and dissemination of results through publications and