We invite applications for a postdoctoral research position focused on the mechanotyping of complex cellular systems, combining cutting-edge nanotechnological tools, advanced cell biology, and systems-level quantitative biology. The project aims to uncover how mechanical properties, forces, and physical phenotypes integrate with molecular networks to regulate the function of complex cellular systems across multiple biological scales.
Project backgroundCells are mechanically heterogeneous systems composed of proteins, membranes, and compartments with distinct physical properties. In parallel, they continuously sense and respond to diverse mechanical cues from their environment, including adhesion, stiffness, tension, shear, pressure, and confinement. These cues are integrated across wide spatial and temporal scales, from nanometers to tissues, to regulate collective cellular behavior. Mechanobiology seeks to understand how cells, tissues, and organoids perceive, process, and remodel mechanical signals, and how these processes govern fundamental biological functions such as homeostasis, growth, differentiation, migration, development, and apoptosis. Despite major advances, a multiscale understanding of how mechanical information is generated and integrated in complex multicellular systems remains limited. Progress in the field requires the development of engineered multicellular models as mechanical reference systems, new tools to quantitatively measure and manipulate mechanics across scales, and theoretical frameworks to interpret mechanobiological complexity. This postdoctoral project addresses these challenges by combining model systems, advanced mechanical probing, and integrative analysis to elucidate how mechanical properties regulate biological function across molecular, cellular, and multicellular levels, ultimately supporting advances in mechanodiagnostics and mechanomedicine.
Job descriptionYou will work at the interface of
mechanobiology, nanotechnology, systems biology, and quantitative biology, developing and applying innovative experimental and analytical approaches to characterize cellular mechanical states and their regulatory roles. Research directions include:
- Quantitative mechanotyping of single cells, tissues, and multicellular systems (e.g., organoids, spheroids)
- Development and application of nanotechnological platforms for force sensing, manipulation, and mechanical phenotyping
- Advanced cell biological techniques, including live-cell imaging, super-resolution microscopy, and genetically encoded reporters
- Systems biology approaches to integrate mechanical phenotypes with molecular, signaling, and transcriptional networks
- Quantitative modeling and data-driven analysis of multi-parameter cellular states
- High-throughput and multi-scale approaches to link mechanical properties to functional cellular outcomes
The position offers substantial freedom to shape novel experimental pipelines that bridge
physical measurements with systems-level biological insight. Independent working on an interdisciplinary challenging and complex project at highest scientific levels at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich in Basel in collaboration with internationally leading groups in cell, organoid and computational biology.
Profile - PhD degree or equivalent in the fields of cell biology, mechanobiology, bionanotechnology, systems biology, quantitative biology (phenotyping), computational biosystems analysis, and other related disciplines
- Experience in human and animal cell biology, cellular systems, and organoids
- Expertise in micro-/nanofabrication, advanced optical microscopy and nanooscopy, image analysis, computational analysis
- Interest in getting trained in molecular and cellular biophysics, bionanotechnology, cell and tissue biology, high end optical microscopy, phenotyping, multiplexing
- Interest in interdisciplinary research at the ETH Zurich in Basel with cell biology, organoid biology, nanotechnology, mechanobiology, computational biology and biophysics is welcome
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
- Excellent organizational skills and high reliability
- Excellent track record in scientific working, communication, and publishing
- Outstanding ability to work independently in highly collaborative teams
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English are essential
We offer - Exciting and highly innovative and collaborative research within the framework of the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at the ETH Zurich in Basel
- Highly interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment
- Full access to state-of-the-art nanofabrication facilities and expertise at the campuses of ETH Zurich
- Support benefits (networking, career development)
- Regular seminars and symposia at ETH Zurich and Basel ecosystem
- Fully funded position for initially 1-2 years, with the possibility of extension contingent on performance and funding
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