Postdoc Position in Bacteria and Materials Interactions 80 - 100%

Infos sur l'emploi

Date de publication :16 janvier 2025
Taux d'activité :80 – 100%
Type de contrat :Temporaire
Langue :anglais (Courant)
Lieu de travail :Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen

Postdoc Position in Bacteria and Materials Interactions 80 - 100%

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.

The Bacteria and Materials Interactions Group at the Biointerfaces Laboratory is offering a Postdoc position focused on the development of advanced antimicrobial coatings. This project aims to tackle the growing challenge of infections caused by resistant bacteria through designing innovative, non-toxic and durable antimicrobial solutions. This highly interdisciplinary project will be conducted in collaboration with several Swiss companies, offering a potential translation of scientific advancements into practical applications.

Your tasks

The primary focus of this position is to investigate bacteria-material interactions with the ultimate goal of developing innovative antimicrobial surfaces.

Key objectives include:

Conducting physicochemical characterization of bacterial and material properties.

Exploring how material properties influence bacterial viability and biofilm formation.

Identifying and elucidating the mode of actions of bacterial killing.

Establishing in vivo relevant models for antimicrobial assessment to demonstrate the efficacy of the developed coatings under conditions closely simulating in vivo environment

The work aims to advance the fundamental understanding of bacterial interactions with surfaces and the factors influencing these interaction systems, thereby contributing to the development of next-generation antimicrobial materials.

Your profile

The candidate should have a PhD degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Materials Science or related disciplines with a deep scientific curiosity in bacteria-materials interactions.

Key qualifications include:

Proven ability to work independently and manage scientific and industry-related projects efficiently within an interdisciplinary environment.

Hands-on experience in bacterial handling, wet chemistry and material synthesis.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to actively bring in scientific expertise and ideas.

Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate who is not only technically skilled but also eager to engage in cutting-edge research and contribute meaningfully to our dynamic team.

Our offer

The Biointerfaces Laboratory is located in St. Gallen at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). Our team is highly interdisciplinary and international, providing an inspiring environment for high impact research. We have internal expertise in (micro)biology, chemistry, materials engineering and ex vivo models, and we have strong collaborators with external academic, industrial and clinical partners to ensure the project success. Additionally, Empa offers outstanding infrastructure, career support, networking opportunities and competitive salaries. The position is available from March 2025 or after negotiation, for an initial duration of 2 years with possibility for extension.

We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.

We look forward to receiving your complete online application including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, diplomas and contact details of two reference persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.

Sarah Stüdli,
Bereichspersonalleiterin / HR Partner