Doctoral Student in High-throughput Analysis of Protein Interactions
Develop high-throughput experimental and machine learning methods to analyze force-dependent protein interactions.
Best for:Best for quantitative science graduates with a background in molecular engineering, biophysics, or computational biology seeking an interdisciplinary PhD.
Overview
This doctoral position is jointly hosted by the Lab for Engineering Synthetic Systems (Nash Lab) at the University of Basel and ETH Zurich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering. The successful candidate will create high-throughput screening platforms utilizing molecular surface display and deep sequencing to investigate force-dependent protein behaviors relevant to blood clotting. The role sits at the intersection of protein engineering, molecular biophysics, and machine learning in close collaboration with computational biology teams. The researcher is expected to design assays, construct variant libraries, process genomic data, and contribute to teaching activities at the University of Basel.
What you'll do
- Establish and validate a quantitative, high-throughput assay to measure mechanical stability in blood-clotting protein interactions
- Cross-validate high-throughput assay results against atomic force microscopy measurements
- Design and construct DNA variant libraries displayed on yeast
- Apply next-generation DNA sequencing to quantify cellular phenotypes
- Develop computational pipelines to translate sequencing data into quantitative fitness values
- Collaborate with computational biology groups to benchmark machine learning models
- Prepare research data and manuscripts for publication while presenting findings at conferences
- Fulfill all coursework and milestone requirements of the D-BSSE Doctoral program
- Assist with undergraduate teaching and practical laboratory supervision
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in bioengineering, chemical engineering, biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, or a related field
Degree offered: PhD
Language: Fluent written and spoken English
Instruction: English
- Strong quantitative background and interest in protein engineering or mechanobiology
- Hands-on experience with molecular biology and protein expression techniques
- Proficiency or willingness to learn computational analysis of large sequencing datasets using Python
- Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively across two institutions
- Fluent written and spoken English proficiency
- Must meet the formal admission criteria for the D-BSSE Doctoral program at ETH Zurich
Funding & terms
How to apply
Applicants must submit their dossier exclusively through the official online application portal. Email or postal submissions will not be reviewed. Ensure all requested academic documents and statements are compiled into the required format before submission.
- Cover letter
- CV
- Transcripts of all degrees
- Master's thesis or representative project report
- Publications or preprints
- Names and contact information of at least two references
Contact
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