PhD: High-Throughput Protein Interactions & Mechanobiology

ETH Zürich; Basel; On-site; CHF 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

ETH Zurich's Nash Lab (affiliated with the University of Basel and ETH Zurich) seeks a Doctoral Student to develop high-throughput, machine-learning–assisted studies of force-dependent protein behavior. You will bridge protein engineering, biophysics, and computational biology, contributing to datasets and predictive models.

You will undergo the D-BSSE Doctoral program in Basel and collaborate with two institutions, with data-to-publication responsibilities and potential teaching involvement.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field is required.
• Strong quantitative background and interest in protein engineering, mechanobiology, and high-throughput methods.
• Hands-on molecular biology and protein expression experience; yeast display/directed evolution desirable.
• Comfort with large sequencing datasets and Python; ML experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Establish and validate a high-throughput assay for mechanical stability of protein-protein interactions.
• Cross-validate assay results with AFM measurements.
• Design DNA variant libraries and display on yeast.
• Apply next-generation sequencing to quantify phenotypes.
• Develop computational pipelines to convert sequencing data into fitness values.
• Collaborate with computational biology to develop ML models.
• Prepare data and manuscripts for publication and present results.
• Enroll in and complete the D-BSSE Doctoral program in Basel.
• Contribute to undergraduate teaching and chemistry practicals.

Skills

Fluent English

Quantitative background

Molecular biology

Protein engineering

Python / programming

Machine learning

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in bioengineering / biochemistry / molecular biology / biophysics

Tools

AFM

Next-generation sequencing

Yeast display

Job description

ETH Zurich's Nash Lab (affiliated with the University of Basel and ETH Zurich) seeks a Doctoral Student to develop high-throughput, machine-learning–assisted studies of force-dependent protein behavior. You will bridge protein engineering, biophysics, and computational biology, contributing to datasets and predictive models.

You will undergo the D-BSSE Doctoral program in Basel and collaborate with two institutions, with data-to-publication responsibilities and potential teaching involvement.