Doctoral Student Position in Environmental Bioengineering at ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

The Environmental Microfluidics Group at ETH Zurich, led by Prof. Roman Stocker, is seeking a motivated doctoral student for a project investigating how bacterial chemotaxis accelerates plasmid transfer and the spread of antibiotic resistance. This interdisciplinary project is funded by the SNSF and involves collaboration with the University of Warsaw.

Designation

Doctoral Student in Environmental Bioengineering

Research Area

The research focuses on the interface of engineering and microbiology, specifically studying bacterial conjugation (the transfer of plasmids) in aquatic environments. The project aims to understand how microscale chemical hotspots and fluid flows influence the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Location

The position is based in the laboratory of Prof. Roman Stocker at ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

Eligibility/Qualification

Candidates should be skilled engineers with a passion for building tools to answer scientific questions. Requirements include:

• An MSc degree in Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Practical experience in prototyping and manufacturing (CAD, 3D printing, machining).
• Experience with control systems and instrumentation (motor control, sensors, Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, etc.).
• Willingness to learn microbiology techniques (bacterial cultures, sterile technique, flow cytometry).
• Fluency in English (oral and written).
• Familiarity with microscopy, image analysis, or fluid mechanics is considered beneficial.

Scholarship Description

This experimental PhD position involves the following responsibilities:

• Designing and building new instrumentation to couple chemotaxis assays to controlled shear systems using 3D printing and control systems.
• Running chemotaxis and conjugation experiments with bacterial donors and recipients.
• Using advanced techniques such as flow cytometry and plate-reader-based quantification.
• Imaging and tracking fluorescently labeled bacteria and chemical plumes in shear flow.
• Analyzing data using quantitative image- and data-analysis pipelines.
• Contributing data to mathematical models of plasmid spread.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the ETH Zurich online application portal. Please prepare the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Cover letter (max one page) including motivation, research interests, and possible start date.
• Full transcripts from undergraduate studies (Bachelor and Masters, including grades).
• A copy of the Master’s or Bachelor’s thesis (PDF).
• At least two reference letters.

Last Date for Apply

The application deadline is December 15, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.

Apply Link

Apply Online Now – Doctoral Student in Environmental Bioengineering