PhD Position in Biophysics

In the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, Switzerland, we have an opening for a PhD position in the area of biophysics.

Project description

We develop a quantitative mechanosensor that can map the force distribution of cell membranes at sub-micron spatial and microsecond temporal resolution in living cells via simple fluorescence microscopy readout. The mechanical properties of cells are increasingly recognized as playing critical roles in biological processes. However, the limited variety of force characterization tools hinders the detailed studies of cell mechanics. We will incorporate a mechano-chromic polymer directly into native cell membranes to detect the forces in the membranes. Taking the advantages of molecular technologies such as high-throughput and biocompatibility, the proposed interdisciplinary project combines physics, chemistry and biology to challenge the current bottleneck in mechanobiology. To date, no probe exists in the market for studying bilayer mechanical tensions. It will have a great impact on biology and has a possibility to provide a new assay for medical research in future.

Qualifications

Prerequisites are masters or diploma in physics, physical chemistry or engineering. Highly-motivated students who are interested in pursuing a research career would be encouraged to apply. Starting date is flexible. The selection procedure starts as soon as we received qualified candidates till the position is filled.