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.

In line with Empa's mission, its 'Multi-omics for healthcare materials' group is starting a computational biology project aiming to discover novel protein and metabolite biomarkers specific for the early phases of chronic wound development. The project will be part of a larger Empa's initiative focused on the design of a precision, self-care integrated system to completely understand, simulate and monitor skin wound evolution, with the ultimate aim to treat and prevent chronic wounds.

Your tasks

The project will focus on the characterization of molecular determinants that lead to stalled wound healing and chronic wound development. The student will guide analyses of datasets obtained through a comprehensive proteomic and metabolomic characterization of wound exudates. The PhD student will work closely both with clinical partners as well as with Empa groups responsible for the translation of research results. The PhD candidate will implement existing and develop novel approaches for biomarker identification from high throughput molecular measurements. They should therefore have a good knowledge of and a genuine interest in programing, statistics and biomedical research. This ambitious project will be instrumental for the timely identification of high-risk wounds and it will additionally explore new therapeutic approaches for the prevention of chronic wounds.

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate with a strong background in computational biology or a related field, who wants to pursue cutting-edge research oriented towards direct clinical applications.

Required qualifications include a Master's degree in computational biology or a related field. Prior experience with programming, statistics and biomedical research is essential, while experience with biomarker discovery is advantageous but not strictly required. Excellent English skills, both in verbal and written communication, are required for the project. We are looking for results-oriented team player.

Our offer

Our team is located in St. Gallen at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologies (Empa). We have a strong network of collaborators and clinical partners in Switzerland and abroad and offer outstanding conditions in the field of computational biology and translational biomedical research. The environment at Empa strongly fosters science and entrepreneurship. Empa offers an outstanding infrastructure, a broad interdisciplinary environment and competitive salaries. The PhD student will be enrolled at ETH Zurich and will be affiliated with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics. The position is available starting February 2025 or upon agreement, with a planned duration of three to four years.

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.

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