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PhD Student Bone Biology
AO Foundation
PhD Student Bone Biology
The PhD position is embedded within the SNSF Sinergia projectSLIHI4BONE(project start 01.04.2023) focusing on a newly-proposed mechanism explaining the formation of bone in soft tissue, the so-called heterotopic ossification. According to this mechanism, tissue mineralization may provoke a sustained local ionic homeostatic imbalance, and this local decrease in extracellular calcium may modulate inflammation to trigger bone formation. The general project aim is to assess the validity of this mechanism and to use it for healing large bone defects.
Project team and setup: Within the project we will follow a multidisciplinary collaborative approach for which we are recruiting 3 PhD students focusing on material science (PhD position at RMS Foundation), in vivo imaging/computational methods (PhD position at LBB, ETHZ) and in vivo molecular biology (PhD position at ARI). An additional Postdoc position (at LBB, ETHZ) will be focusing on the development of multiphoton imaging technology. This multidisciplinary team setup will allow to design calcium phosphate materials with controlled architecture, composition, and to assess their rate of mineralization in vitro and in vivo. The level of extracellular calcium and the tissue response around the materials will be followed by multimodal approaches including (among others) time-lapsed in vivo imaging, multiphoton microscopy, spatial transcriptomics and proteomics.
Project team and setup: Within the project we will follow a multidisciplinary collaborative approach for which we are recruiting 3 PhD students focusing on material science (PhD position at RMS Foundation), in vivo imaging/computational methods (PhD position at LBB, ETHZ) and in vivo molecular biology (PhD position at ARI). An additional Postdoc position (at LBB, ETHZ) will be focusing on the development of multiphoton imaging technology. This multidisciplinary team setup will allow to design calcium phosphate materials with controlled architecture, composition, and to assess their rate of mineralization in vitro and in vivo. The level of extracellular calcium and the tissue response around the materials will be followed by multimodal approaches including (among others) time-lapsed in vivo imaging, multiphoton microscopy, spatial transcriptomics and proteomics.
In this role, you are required to
For the biological and preclinical work packages within SLIHI4BONE, we are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to join the Bone Biology Focus Area at the AO Research Institute (Davos, Switzerland). The successful candidate will closely interact with the Sinergia collaboration partners at RMS Foundation and ETH Zurich. The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the PhD program of ETH Zurich. Tasks and activities will include:
- Development of in vivo model setups for HO and impaired bone healing
- Establishment/application of molecular methods, e.g. proteomics and spatial transcriptomics
- Design of cell-type specific calcium-reporter mice
- Histology/immunohistochemistry
- Application of in vivo micro-computed and multiphoton imaging
To master this challenge, you have
- MSc degree in molecular biology, biomedical sciences, veterinary medicine or related discipline
- Previous experience in molecular biology is required
- Experience with RNAseq, proteomics, histology or multiphoton microscopy is advantageous
- Previous in vivo experience is advantageous
- Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written) are a must
- High motivation, strong interest in musculoskeletal research, durability to cope with challenges
- Ability to solve complex tasks in a highly independent manner
- Eligibility to apply and obtain a Visa for temporary residence is Switzerland
- Familiarity with a cross-cultural/interdisciplinary environment is an advantage
Working for us, you can expect:
- An interesting and varied job in an exciting and innovative organization
- The opportunity to be part of a highly committed international team
- Modern infrastructure
- Employment conditions which match the requirements and offer a high degree of flexibility regarding working hours and location
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