Job Description
The Regenerative Medicine Technologies (RMT) Lab is part of the Laboratories for Translational Research at Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, located in Bellinzona, Switzerland.
Strategic research areas of the RMT Lab include:
* In vitro disease modeling through biofabrication (e.g. age-related diseases, cancer metastases, musculo-skeletal diseases)
* Design of novel technologies for drug screening
* Personalized medicine applications using human tissue biopsies
To promote the advancement of these research areas, the RMT Lab combines microfluidics and microphysiological systems, 3D (bio)printing and computational simulations.
We invite applications for a fully funded Ph.D. position in Biomedical Sciences to conduct research in the project entitled "The dark side of muscular dystrophies: targeting endothelial-mesenchymal transition in the dystrophic microenvironment through a biofabricated human muscle-on-a-chip."
This project has recently been granted funding from the Fondation Suisse de Recherche sur les Maladies Musculaires.
The Project Overview
The 3-year project will focus on identifying biological mechanisms driving blood vessel degeneration in skeletal muscle dystrophies.
The project involves the biofabrication of a human muscle-on-a-chip embedding contractile muscle bundles and perfusable microvascular networks.
Starting from patient-derived cells, the project aims to dissect the heterotypic cell-cell interactions occurring within the dystrophic muscle microenvironment through a combination of high-content imaging and next-gen sequencing techniques.
The lab has access to cutting-edge facilities, including bulk and single-cell RNAseq, spatial transcriptomics, mass spectrometry, confocal, multi-photon, and electron microscopy.
The PhD Position
The doctoral student will be enrolled in the PhD track in Biomedical Sciences (PhD Biomedical Sciences) and will work under the scientific supervision of Prof. Simone Bersini.
The successful candidate will have the possibility to work in a dynamic research team and in a multidisciplinary and international scientific environment.
The PhD candidate will collaborate in the development of the institute research agenda, setting up a collection of data for their dissertation, participating in various tasks related to the research streams, presenting papers at scientific conferences, and producing publications for scientific journals.
Requirements
* A Master (or equivalent title) in any Life Sciences or related disciplines, including Bioengineering (priority given to Muscle Biology or Vascular Biology background)
* High personal interest in organ-on-a-chip, 3D (bio)printing, microfabrication
* Experience with (or strong commitment to learn): cell culture, imaging, standard biological techniques, design and microfabrication of microphysiological systems
* Good skills in oral and written English (official language of the Ph.D. program)
* Self-motivation and exceptional commitment to experimental goals and deadlines
* Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently as well as in a team
* Critical data analysis and troubleshooting
* Effectively communicate experimental data, maintain records, and write manuscripts
* Motivation to engage in the elaboration of a PhD dissertation
Contract Terms
Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive, based on the candidate's background, interests, attitude, and potential for academic achievement.
Successful enrolment in the Ph.D. program and the position as doctoral researcher are not compatible with a further professional activity.
The successful candidate will work as a research assistant at the RMT Lab, interacting with an international network of collaborators.
Availability to travel to other parts of Switzerland and abroad is required.
The starting date is May 1, 2025 (possibility to anticipate or postpone upon request).
Application Requirements
* A letter describing research interests and motivation to apply
* A complete CV
* Copies of relevant diplomas, certificates, and full transcript of records that prove eligibility for doctoral studies
* An electronic version of a research work (Master thesis or other scientific publication)
* Two references
Please send your application in electronic form or requests for further information to simone.bersini@eoc.ch (please use the following subject: PhD-Muscle).