PhD Position in Bacteria & Materials Interactions

About the role

The Biointerfaces Laboratory at Empa in St. Gallen offers a PhD position focused on antimicrobial biomaterials, microbiology, and bacteriophage therapy. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team developing injectable, living hydrogel systems to treat wound infections caused by antimicrobial‑resistant bacteria and biofilms.

Key responsibilities

• Design and synthesis of injectable hydrogel systems.
• Encapsulation and controlled delivery of probiotics and bacteriophages.
• Engineering and characterization of phage‑based antimicrobial strategies against pathogenic bacteria and biofilms.
• Characterization and optimisation of hydrogel properties and biological functionality.
• Evaluation of tissue regeneration and therapeutic potential of living therapeutics.
• Elucidation of mechanisms of action and investigation of antimicrobial‑resistance evolution.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Biomaterials, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry or a related field.
• Strong interest in antimicrobial resistance, biomaterials, microbiology or phage therapy.
• Experience in one or more areas such as microbiology and bacterial culture, biofilm research, biomaterials and hydrogels, molecular or synthetic biology, or bacteriophage work.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to an interdisciplinary team.
• Previous experience with phages, hydrogels, wound‑healing models or antimicrobial testing is advantageous.

Required skills

• Microbiology
• Biofilm research
• Biomaterials
• Hydrogel synthesis
• Molecular biology
• Synthetic biology
• Bacteriophage handling

What we offer

• Highly international and multidisciplinary research environment.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art research infrastructure.
• Scientific training spanning microbiology, biomaterials engineering, phage biology and translational biomedical research.
• Close collaboration with leading bacteriophage experts at ETH Zurich.
• Stimulating work environment within one of Switzerland’s leading research institutions.
• Attractive employment conditions according to Empa regulations, fixed‑term contract for four years starting November 2026.