PhD Student to work on Wearable optical sensors for detecting biomarkers relevant to wound healing
PhD Student to work on Wearable optical sensors for detecting biomarkers relevant to wound healing
Posted on :
15-03-2025
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1 Vacancy
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Monthly Salary
Not Disclosed
Salary Not Disclosed
Vacancy
1 Vacancy
Posted on :
15-03-2025
Job Description
Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cuttingedge research Empas around 1100 employees make essential contributions to the wellbeing of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.
In our research group we design smart stimuliresponsive (nano)materials that can be applied as diagnostic tools or as controlled drug delivery systems aiming to improve the management of infected wounds. Our group is focused on: i) Developing novel fluorescentbased detection approaches for the continuous monitoring of wound healing. ii) Achieving temporal and spatial controlled drug release systems through stimuliresponsive materials. These tasks are part of a larger Empas initiative called Wound Booster involving several PhD students working on different topics related to wound healing.
Project background
Wound healing is a complex process in which a cascade of physiological events takes place to restore injured skin to its full functionality. The presence of bacteria in the wound impairs the healing process leading to persistent inflammatory lesions chronic wounds and worstcase scenario to sepsis. Due to the often inappropriate wound management and the increased number of multidrugresistance strains infected wounds represent a concerning burden for global health with high costs due to the required long hospitalization. It is therefore imperative to develop alternative highly efficient treatments and improve wound management. In the Wound Booster initiative we will design a precision selfcare integrated system to completely understand simulate and monitor skin wound evolution with the ultimate aim to treat and even prevent chronic wounds. We will couple an in vitro analytical omicsbased platform to selfcare wearables for spatiotemporal wound monitoring and patientspecific timely wound treatment.
Your tasks
In this PhD project you will develop sensors integrated in adaptive wound dressings. The sensors will be designed by combining optical sensing approaches which will prevent signal interference and allow for simultaneous assessment of multiple markers (multiplexing and multifunctionality). Besides the biomarkers newly identified in Wound Booster the sensors will also include known biophysical markers and known inflammatory markers characteristic for CW. You will work in close collaboration with two other Empa PhD students: one working on optical sensing of bacterial loadingand one student who performs an unbiased study of protein biomarkers which objectively indicate wound status and deliver insights required to develop the optical sensors. You will functionalize hydrogels with the transducers and study their sensing properties under physiological conditions. Later you will validate the sensors with real wound exudate obtained from our clinical partners.
Your profile
The candidate should have a strong background in Chemistry or Materials Science. We are looking for a highly motivated person capable of working in a multidisciplinary environment driven by scientific curiosity and open to learning new topics. The Ph.D. candidate needs to be proficient in spoken and written English and have a Masters degree. S/he will participate in writing scientific publications and presenting data at national and international scientific conferences. Previous experience in one or more of the following topics is required: surface functionalization chemistries spectrophotometric analysis analysis of release kinetics and synthesis of hydrogels (nanocomposites).
Our offer
The work will be carried out at Empa St. Gallen (under the supervision of Dr. Luciano F. Boesel) and ZHAW (under the supervision of Dr. Mathias Bonmarin).The PhD student will be affiliated at ETH Zrich (Prof. Ren Rossi DHEST). The project will have a duration of 34 years with a starting date upon mutual agreement.
Candidates need to address the project and points mentioned above in their letter of motivation. Applications missing this information will not be considered
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 email and by post will not be considered.
SarahStdli Bereichspersonalleiterin / HR Partner
Employment Type
Full-Time
Key Skills
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