PhD student position in the Regenerative Medicine Technologies (RMT) Lab - Aging and cancer

Università della Svizzera italiana; Lugano; Vor Ort; CHF 40’000 - 80’000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

An innovative university is seeking a PhD candidate for a fully funded position in Biomedical Sciences. This exciting opportunity involves conducting research on the role of aging blood vessels in melanoma metastases, utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as 3D biofabrication and microphysiological systems. The successful candidate will join a dynamic and multidisciplinary team, engage in high-impact research, and contribute to scientific publications. This role promises a collaborative environment, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and the chance to make significant contributions to the field of regenerative medicine.

Qualifikationen

• Master's degree in Life Sciences or Bioengineering required.
• Strong interest in organ-on-a-chip and 3D printing technologies.

Aufgaben

• Conduct research on aging human vasculature and melanoma metastases.
• Collaborate on the development of the institute's research agenda.

Kenntnisse

Cell Culture

3D (Bio)Printing

Microfabrication

Imaging Techniques

Data Analysis

Organ-on-a-Chip

Critical Thinking

Ausbildung

Master in Life Sciences

Equivalent Title in Bioengineering

Tools

Confocal Microscopy

qPCR

Western Blot

ELISA

Immunofluorescence

Jobbeschreibung

PhD student position at the RegenerativeMedicine Technologies Lab, Faculty ofBiomedical Sciences at USI Università della

Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunity

open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which

they can be fully engaged and take center stage, and where our researchers can count on

having the space to freely pursue their initiative.

Established in 1996, USI is in constant evolution, always taking on new challenges while

remaining true to its three guiding principles: quality, openness and responsibility.

The Regenerative Medicine Technologies (RMT) Lab is part of the Laboratories for

Translational Research of Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale located in Bellinzona (Switzerland).

Strategic research areas of the RMT Lab are: in vitro disease modeling through

biofabrication (e.g. age-related diseases, cancer metastases, musculo-skeletal diseases);

design of novel technologies for drug screening; personalized medicine applications using

human tissue biopsies. To promote the advancement of these research areas, the RMT Lab

combines microfluidics and microphysiological systems, 3D (bio)printing and computational

simulations.

The RMT Lab invites applications for a fully funded Ph.D. position in Biomedical Sciences for

conducting research in the project entitled “A high-throughput microphysiological

platform to analyze the role of the aging human vasculature in melanoma metastases”.

The project

The lab has recently granted funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation.

The 4 years project will deal with the identification of biological mechanisms driving the

formation and progression of metastases in presence of aging blood vessels with the final

goal of identifying translational opportunities to block this process.

The project involves the biofabrication of 3D microvascular networks (main focus on the

blood brain barrier), their integration with high-throughput culture systems and the analysis of

blood vessel-cancer cell interaction through multiple next-gen sequencing techniques and

high-content screening.

The lab has access to cutting-edge facilities (e.g. bulk and single-cell RNAseq; spatial

transcriptomics; mass spectrometry; confocal, multi-photon and electron microscopy) which

are shared with the Institute for Research in Biomedicine and the Institute of Oncology

Research within a dynamic, multidisciplinary and collaborative environment.

The Ph.D. Position

The doctoral student will be enrolled in the PhD track in Biomedical Sciences (PhD

Biomedical Sciences). The doctoral student will work under the scientific supervision of Prof.

Simone Bersini (https://usi.to/bcq9). The successful candidate will be offered the possibility

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to work in a dynamic research team and in a multidisciplinary and international scientific

The PhD candidate will collaborate in the development of the institute research agenda. He

or she will have the task of setting up a collection of data for his or her dissertation, while at

the same time participating in a variety of tasks related to the research streams in which

he/she is involved.

The PhD candidate is also asked to present papers at scientific conferences and produce

publications for scientific journals.

Candidates’ profile

Ideal candidates should satisfy the following requirements:

• A Master (or equivalent title) in any Life Sciences or related disciplines including

Bioengineering. Priority given to Vascular Biology or Cancer Biology background.

• High personal interest in organ-on-a-chip, 3D (bio)printing, microfabrication

• Experience with (or strong commitment to learn): cell culture (preferred if 3D cultures with

hydrogels and endothelial cells or cancer cells), imaging (confocal microscopy, preferably

with 3D cultures and using high-content screening systems), standard biological techniques

(qPCR, western blot, elisa, immunofluorescence), design and microfabrication of

microphysiological systems

• Good skills in oral and written English (official language of the Ph.D. program)

• Self-motivation and exceptional commitment to experimental goals and deadlines

• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently as well as in a team

• Critical data analysis and troubleshooting

• Effectively communicate experimental data, maintain records and write manuscripts

• Motivation to engage in the elaboration of a PhD dissertation. Interest for teaching and

tutoring students and availability to collaborate with colleagues (engage in scientific dialogue,

listen and think critically) are required.

Contract terms

Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive. Admission decisions are based on the

candidate’s background, interests, attitude and potential for academic achievement.

Successful enrolment in the Ph.D. program and the position as doctoral researcher are not

compatible with a further professional activity.

The successful candidates will work as research assistants at the RMT Lab, and will have

the possibility to interact with an international network of collaborators.

Workplace is RMT Lab, located in Bellinzona, Switzerland. Availability to travel to other parts

of Switzerland and abroad (for purposes of collaboration and research) is required.

Starting date is March 1, 2025 (possibility to anticipate or postpone upon request). The

position will be kept open until a suitable candidate has been found.

The Application

Applications should contain: (1) a letter in which the applicants describe their research

interests and the motivation to apply, (2) a complete CV, (3) copies of relevant diplomas,

certificates as well as the full transcript of records that prove the candidates’ eligibility for

doctoral studies in DISCIPLINE, (4) an electronic version of a research work (Master thesis

or other scientific publication). The latter must be accompanied by a short summary in

English (1 page maximum). (5) Two references (support letters are not necessary at this

stage of evaluation).

Please send your application in electronic form or requests for further information to

[e-mail] (please use the following subject: PhD-Aging)

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USI strives to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and is further responsive

to the needs of dual career couples. We guarantee that the selection process will give equal

opportunities to female and male researchers.

As an institution that values diversity, USI particularly encourages applications from women

and from all individuals from underrepresented groups.