PhD in Bioengineering: Microfluidics & Plasmid Spread

Immigration Policy Lab; Zürich; On-site; CHF 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family-friendly employer

Excellent working conditions

Collaborative research environment

Job summary

ETH Zurich's Environmental Microfluidics Group seeks a doctoral student in environmental bioengineering to study how bacterial chemotaxis accelerates plasmid transfer and antibiotic resistance spread. The project is funded by an SNSF grant and collaborations with the University of Warsaw; position based in the Stocker Lab.

You will design and build instrumentation, perform experiments with bacterial donors/recipients, image and analyze data, and contribute to mathematical models.

Qualifications

• MSc degree in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, physics or related discipline.
• Strong hands-on prototyping and manufacturing experience (CAD, 3D printing, machining).
• Openness to gain experience in microbiology labs (cultures, sterile technique, plate readers).
• Experience with control systems, instrumentation and data analysis (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW).

Responsibilities

• Design, build and characterize instrumentation to couple chemotaxis assays to controlled shear systems.
• Run chemotaxis and conjugation experiments with plasmids.
• Image and track fluorescent bacteria and chemical plumes under shear flow.
• Test bacteria for chemotaxis-driven spread of resistance.
• Contribute data to mathematical models of plasmid spread.

Skills

CAD

3D printing

Machining

Control systems

Instrumentation

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Fluency in English

Education

MSc in bioengineering or related engineering field

Tools

3D printing

Fluorescence microscopy

Job description

ETH Zurich's Environmental Microfluidics Group seeks a doctoral student in environmental bioengineering to study how bacterial chemotaxis accelerates plasmid transfer and antibiotic resistance spread. The project is funded by an SNSF grant and collaborations with the University of Warsaw; position based in the Stocker Lab.

You will design and build instrumentation, perform experiments with bacterial donors/recipients, image and analyze data, and contribute to mathematical models.