PhD student – Molecular microbiology of bacterial biofilms

Universität Basel; Eptingen; On-site; CHF 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The Biozentrum, University of Basel invites applications for a PhD student in molecular microbiology focused on bacterial biofilms. The project uses microfluidic growth systems to study emergent behaviors in biofilm communities. Applicants will work with transcriptomics, genetics and confocal microscopy to analyze biofilms during growth and infections, with the project shaped together with Prof.

Knut Drescher. A Master’s degree with a thesis in molecular microbiology is required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree with a research thesis in molecular microbiology.
• Strong interest in biofilms and microbial communities.
• Experience with molecular tools and data analysis is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Investigate emergent behaviors of biofilm communities in microfluidic systems.
• Apply transcriptomics, genetics, and confocal microscopy to study biofilms during growth and infection.
• Collaborate with Knut Drescher’s lab to develop the PhD project.

Skills

Molecular biology

Research skills

Education

Master's degree in Molecular Microbiology

Tools

Transcriptomics

Genetics

Confocal microscopy

Job description

The Biozentrum of the University of Basel is one of the world's leading life sciences institutes. With 33 research groups and 500 employees, we are a dynamic and international research community that has spawned many fundamental discoveries in biology and medicine as well as several Nobel laureates. Join our community! The research group of Prof. Knut Drescher at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel seeks to appoint a PhD student in molecular microbiology, with a focus on bacterial biofilms. The position is available immediately or by mutual agreement.

The project

The research group of Knut Drescher (https://drescherlab.org) focuses on understanding the development and emergent properties of bacterial communities (called “biofilms”). Biofilms are antibiotic-tolerant bacterial communities that are the cause of many chronic and acute infections in humans, but biofilms are also a model system for understanding basic aspects of multicellular organization in living systems. Our projects utilize highly controlled laboratory experiments based on microfluidic growth systems for biofilms, and stem-cell-derived organoids and bioengineered tissues for infections. We recently made important discoveries about danger signals that trigger biofilm formation (Nature Microbiology 2025) and emergent behaviors of biofilms (Cell 2023) that are the basis for the PhD project.

The PhD project will investigate new emergent behaviors of biofilm communities that do not occur in isolated bacterial cells. The project will utilize a variety of molecular tools to analyze, manipulate, and perturb biofilms. A particular focus will be on the use of transcriptomics, genetics, and confocal microscopy methods for investigating cellular behaviors in biofilms during biofilm growth and during infections. The exact project is flexible and will be developed together with Knut Drescher, depending on the strengths and interests of the PhD student.

To get an overview of our lab's recent projects, take a look at our publications: https://drescherlab.org/publications.html

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and talented PhD student to join our lab. Required qualification: A Master's degree with a research thesis in molecular microbiology.

For any informal enquiries, please contact: [e-mail]