PhD Position in Lipid Interfaces, Gastrointestinal Biocorona and Drug Delivery

University of Fribourg; Schweiz; On-site; CHF 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Fribourg invites applications for an Open PhD position in the group of Pascal Bertsch within the ERC GI-CORONA project. It addresses how dietary lipids and lipid-based delivery systems interact with the gastrointestinal tract to influence digestion and drug delivery.

You will formulate lipid-based colloidal systems, study their digestion under physiological conditions, and contribute to interfacial characterization and analytical chemistry in a highly interdisciplinary setting.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field is required.
• Strong theoretical foundation and hands-on experience in colloid science, analytical chemistry, digestion, or oral drug delivery.
• Ability to plan experiments, critically evaluate data and work independently in a collaborative environment.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Formulate lipid-based colloidal systems and study their digestion under physiological conditions.
• Design and optimize lipid-based systems to modulate drug delivery and physiological responses.
• Contribute to interfacial characterization, analytical chemistry, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Skills

Experiment planning

Analytical chemistry

Oral drug delivery

English proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in food science, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or related discipline

Tools

Liquid chromatography

Proteomics

Lipidomics

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Fribourg Department Chemistry Research Field Chemistry » Physical chemistry Physics » Biophysics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 1 Dec 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Brussels) Country Switzerland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Reference Number 101302803 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Open PhD position in the group of Pascal Bertsch, University of Fribourg, within the ERC project GI-CORONA.

About the project

About the project
How do dietary lipids and lipid-based drug delivery systems interact with the complex biochemical environment of the gastrointestinal tract? And how do these interactions influence lipid digestion and drug delivery? The ERC Starting Grant project GI-CORONA aims to answer these questions by investigating the formation and biological function of the gastrointestinal biocorona on liquid lipid interfaces.

Your role

Your role
We are looking for a PhD student motivated to work in a highly interdisciplinary research project spanning from fundamental colloid science and analytical chemistry to applied biophysics and drug delivery. You will formulate lipid-based colloidal systems, investigate their digestion in relation to their physicochemical environment, and use those insights to design and optimize lipid-based systems to modulate physiological responses and drug delivery systems.

Your profile

Essential qualifications

• Master’s degree in food science, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or related discipline
• A solid theoretical foundation and experimental research experience in one of the following areas: Colloid science, analytical chemistry, (lipid) digestion, or oral drug delivery
• The ability to plan experiments, critically evaluate data and work independently while contributing to a collaborative research environment
• Good written and spoken English

Experimental research experience in one of the following specific areas are an advantage

• Design and characterization of emulsions, liposomes, lipid nanoparticles or other colloidal (delivery) systems
• Colloidal characterization using imaging, rheological, and scattering techniques, particularly focusing on interfacial characterization
• Experience in analytical chemistry, particularly liquid chromatography, proteomics or lipidomics
• Experience with in vitro (lipid) digestion setups (INFOGEST)
• Drug delivery system design, i.e., drug-release studies, cell culture, and intestinal permeability assays

This is a highly interdisciplinary PhD project, and applicants are not expected to cover all areas.1 Expected are a strong foundation in experimental colloid science, analytical chemistry, or pharmaceutical science combined with the motivation to develop complementary skills.

What we offer

• The opportunity to work on an ambitious, ERC-funded research project addressing fundamental questions in lipid digestion and oral drug delivery
• A collaborative research environment and acquisition of an interdisciplinary research profile spanning colloid science, biophysics and pharmaceutical sciences
• Training in advanced experimental approaches for studying lipid digestion, interfacial phenomena, proteomics and drug delivery
• Opportunities to publish in scientific journals, present your work at international conferences and develop an independent scientific profile