EDBB Open positions

This page reflects PhD openings within the EDBB program to the best of our current knowledge. Please do not hesitate to contact the laboratories which interest you to find out whether they have upcoming openings for PhD students as this list is non-exhaustive.

Next Deadline for applications : April 15, 2024

PhD position:  spatial & functional characterization of photoreceptors lipids during retinal degeneration and neuroprotection.

The Lipid Cell Biology Laboratory, directed by Giovanni d’Angelo (https://www.epfl.ch/labs/dangelo-lab/ ) has an open position in collaboration with the Lausanne University Ophthalmology department ( https://www.ophtalmique.ch/centre-de-recherche/ ) on photoreceptors lipid characterization during retinal degeneration and retinal neuroprotection.

 

Project description:

Specifically, the project plans to investigate the lipid composition of the retina throughout degeneration processes and genetically-encoded neuroprotective therapy. Inherited retinal degeneration are characterized by altered phototransduction cascade and progressive death of retinal photoreceptors. Photoreceptor lipid rafts microdomains are associated with the phototransduction cascade and altered during retinal degeneration. This project will broaden our understanding of the lipid composition in photoreceptors and their role in the degeneration process, with the objective of developing a neuroprotective approach targeting cell signaling in lipid microdomains.

This project will make advantage of stem cells culture techniques, mass spectrometry (MALDI imaging), high-resolution celllular imaging, chemical biology and histochemistry techniques with the following aims:

  1. Development of an iPSCD-derived organoid model for retinal and photoreceptor lipids characterization
  2. Spatial & functional characterization of photoreceptor lipids in retinal organoids and mice models of retinal degeneration
  3. Evaluation of a neuroprotective therapy effects on photoreceptor lipid composition and photoreceptor metabolism

The ideal candidate should have a Master’s degree (or equivalent degree) in life science, engineering, neuroscience, or biology, and be strongly motivated with a keen interest in stem cells technologies, cellular neuroscience and imaging analysis. Previous research experience with molecular biology and cell cultures techniques is an advantage.

Working environment:

The successful applicant will join the Lipid Cell Biology Laboratory – Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Chair on Metabolism research group and the Ophtalmogenetics research group of Lausanne University. The PhD candidate will be embedded in a highly international and dynamic environment in close collaboration with clinical research. The lab is based in the Jules Gonin Ophtalmic Hospital, in the city center of Lausanne. The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the EPFL Ph.D programm in Biotechnology and Bioengineering (EDBB).

 

Start of position:

Fall 2024

Application procedure:

Interested candidates must submit their application to the EDBB doctoral school

(https://www.epfl.ch/education/phd/edbb-biotechnology-and-bioengineering/edbb-how-to-apply)

LBNC

We are looking to hire a graduate student in cell-free synthetic biology. The prospective graduate student will work on building the foundations for the development of a synthetic cell. This project will involve developing state-of-art techniques and approaches in cell-free synthetic biology combined with microfluidic technologies to push the current boundaries of in vitro synthetic biology and cell-free transcription – translation systems. The graduate student will be embedded in a highly international and dynamic research environment.

The Laboratory for Biomedical Microfluidics (LBMM, www.epfl.ch/labs/lbmm) develops new approaches in antibody discovery and personalized cancer therapy.

The group is very interdisciplinary, including people with a primary training in biology, bioinformatics and engineering. Powerful technology platforms in the field of biomedicine and genomics have been developed over the past years, also leading to the establishment of two startup companies (www.veraxa.de and www.besttherapyforme.com).

Having a comprehensive microfluidic toolbox at hand (and expanding it continuously), we are now inviting applications for two projects:

  1. Highly multiplexed RNA-seq biomarker discovery for drug sensitivity in leukemia. Here we plan to combine our Combi-seq approach (Mathur et al., Nature Communications 2022) with single-cell phenotypic cell sorting for drug sensitivity. 
  2. Library vs library screening of T-cells and antigen-presenting cells for novel immune oncology approaches”. Here we aim to set up a platform for screening cell pairs for affinity. The project is carried out in the context of a large Sinergia grant consortium, including several bioinformatics groups.

LPBS

Antibodies are key components of protein- and cell-based therapies. The Rahi lab is currently developing both novel experimental directed evolution approaches as well as computational AI-based design methods to make better binding, smarter, more controlled, and cheaper antibodies. Entrepreneurial spirit is a plus.

Ramdya Laboratory of Neuroengineering are reverse-engineering cognitive and motor behaviors in the fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to better understand the mind and to design more intelligent robots. Flies are an ideal model: they generate complex behaviors, their nervous systems are small, and they are genetically malleable. Our lab develops and leverages advanced microscopy, machine learning, genetics, and computational modeling approaches to address systems-level questions. We are always looking for talented researchers to join our team. Please apply directly to the EDBB program with your full application package. Join us! There is much to discover!

For more details, see web pages of the EDBB program’s potential thesis directors.