PhD Position in Advanced Bioelectronic & Electrical Conversion Research

About the role

The Biotechnology and Bioengineering group led by Prof. Dr. Martin Fussenegger at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) of ETH Zurich in Basel invites candidates for a PhD position in projects combining synthetic biology, nanotechnology and bioelectronics. The group engineers human cells to respond to electrical, electromagnetic, acoustic and biochemical cues, aiming at wireless, real-time control of therapeutic protein expression and metabolic regulation.

Key responsibilities

• Combine catalyst engineering, computational simulation, bioelectrode device fabrication and electrical engineering to develop bioelectronic interfaces for closed-loop programming of cellular behaviour and real-time monitoring of metabolic activity.
• Design novel bioelectronic implants and develop specialised control software.

Required profile

• Background in physics, material science or chemistry.
• Ideally expertise in bioelectronics or software simulations, or a strong willingness to acquire it.
• Solid knowledge of electrochemistry and materials chemistry.
• Eagerness to collaborate closely with molecular biologists and bioengineers.
• Strong academic record and ambition to pursue a career in industrial R&D or entrepreneurship.

What we offer

• Public transport season tickets and car sharing.
• A wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ.
• Childcare and attractive pension benefits.

Applications must be submitted online through the university's application portal, with a CV, complete academic transcripts, a list of publications, a motivation letter, two letters of recommendation and a one-page research plan.