Summary
The Neurotechnology Group of Prof. Mehmet Fatih Yanik at ETH Zurich is recruiting outstanding postdoctoral researchers and PhD students to join a newly funded LOOP Zurich Flagship Project. This highly interdisciplinary project aims to advance a breakthrough technology for non-invasive, focused ultrasound-mediated targeted drug delivery to the brain, transitioning it from proof-of-concept toward clinical translation.
Postdoctoral and PhD Positions in Neurotechnology at ETH Zurich
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher / PhD Student
Overview Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Employer | ETH Zurich (Neurotechnology Group) |
| Workload | 100% |
| Contract Type | Fixed-term |
| Collaborators | Swiss Epilepsy Clinic Lengg, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich |
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Research Area
Neurotechnology, Drug/Biologics Carrier Formulation, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering.
Location
Zurich, Switzerland
Eligibility/Qualification
Academic Requirements:
- For PhD Applicants: Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred).
- For Postdoctoral Applicants: PhD degree.
- Required Fields: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmaceutics, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
- Excellent academic records from top-tier institutions.
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including programming (Python, MATLAB, or similar).
- Experimental laboratory experience in drug formulation, nanoparticle/microbubble synthesis, or colloid chemistry.
- Hands-on experience with carrier characterization techniques (e.g., dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, HPLC, electron microscopy).
- Expertise in microfluidic synthesis and purification.
- Knowledge of assessing drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and release kinetics.
- Strong motivation for translational drug delivery research and medical innovation.
- Good communication skills and the ability to work independently as well as within a multidisciplinary team.
- For Postdoctoral applicants only: A track record of peer-reviewed publications in drug delivery, nanomedicine, or pharmaceutical sciences.
Additional Preferred Qualifications:
- Willingness to participate in translational preclinical studies and animal experiments (e.g., in vivo drug delivery studies, small animal handling, surgical procedures, imaging, pharmacokinetic/biodistribution assessment).
- Previous experience with focused ultrasound, drug delivery, or biomedical instrumentation.
Job Description
The successful candidates will play a central role in the chemical formulation, engineering, and characterization of drug carriers for the focused ultrasound-mediated targeted drug delivery platform. Depending on experience and interests, responsibilities may include:
- Designing and synthesizing ultrasound-responsive drug carrier formulations (e.g., microbubbles, nanodroplets, liposomes, polymeric/lipid nanoparticles).
- Optimizing drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and release kinetics.
- Conducting physicochemical characterization of carriers (size, zeta potential, stability, morphology).
- Chemical engineering of carrier production processes (e.g., microfluidics, emulsification, sonication).
- Assessing carrier stability under ultrasound exposure and physiological conditions.
- Evaluating drug loading, release, and therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo.
- Developing analytical methods for carrier and drug quantification (e.g., HPLC, DLS).
- Integrating carrier formulations with focused ultrasound delivery systems.
- Collaborating with engineers and clinicians to prepare first-in-human clinical studies.
- Contributing to regulatory-compliant formulation development and quality control.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the ETH Zurich online application portal. Applications sent via email or postal services will not be considered.
Applicants must submit a single PDF containing the following documents:
- Cover Letter (1 page): Describing your motivation and research interests (please clearly specify whether you are applying for the PhD or Postdoctoral position).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Transcripts: Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts showing grades (for PhD applicants) OR PhD certificate and transcripts (for Postdoctoral applicants).
- Degree Certificates
- Publications (if applicable)
- References: Contact details of at least two academic referees.
For questions regarding the position, you may contact ntjobs@ethz.ch (do not submit applications to this email).
Last Date for Apply
Positions are typically open until filled..
