About the University of Bern
The University of Bern is located in the heart of Switzerland. Internationally connected and regionally anchored, it cultivates exchange with society and strengthens partnerships between science, medicine, business, and politics. The University of Bern is committed to a deliberate and ethical responsibility towards people, as well as animate and inanimate nature. As a key educator, promoting enterprise and industry in the region and beyond, it distinguishes itself through problem-oriented research into pressing social issues
The University of Bern is an equal opportunity employer, promotes a healthy work-life balance and safe working environments, and strives to increase the number of women at all levels in its faculties
The ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research is the University of Bern's transdisciplinary Center of Excellence for medical technology research. Its mission is to tackle unmet clinical needs and envision future challenges in diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, creating viable healthcare technology solutions with imagination, agility, and purpose. Its projects run from discovery and basic research to clinical translation
The PhD student will be part of the Organs-on-Chip Technologies Lab (Prof. O. Guenat), which integrates microfluidic engineering with advanced cell biology to create next-generation disease models. In collaboration with ETH Zürich (Prof. C. Halin) and the University of Bern (Prof. C. Bourquin), this project aims to advance understanding of the human lung's lymphatic vasculature in health and disease, with a focus on COPD, through the development of innovative organ-on-chip systems
Description
* Model development: Collaborate with research partners in Bern and Zurich to develop multi-compartments OOC systems integrating blood and lymphatic vasculature with key mechanical cues of the lung microenvironment
* Characterization : Design chips based on microfluidic and physical principles, fabricate & optimize using state-of-the-art microfabrication techniques and characterize chip performance (fluidics, mechanics, and reproducibility).
* Method development: Design and implement specific functional read-outs and quantitative assays to assess vascular-lymphatic interactions.
* Collaboration & dissemination: work closely with research partners, contribute to publications and present results at international conferences
Requirements
MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Microsystem Engineering or a related field
Scientific Expertise & Technical Skills :
* Microfluidics : Strong theoretical and practical understanding of fluid dynamics, fluidic circuit design, and numerical simulation (e.g., COMSOL Multiphysics or ANSYS) and experience in designing, optimizing and validating microfluidic systems for biological applications
* Microfabrication & CAD : Strong engineering intuition and hands-on experience in developing and prototyping novel microfluidic systems (e.g., soft lithography, 3D printing) with experience in CAD-based device design and experimental validation
* Cell culture : Practical experience with cell culture in microfluidic systems, including co-culture approaches, and skilled in fluorescence microscopy and image analysis for functional read-outs of microphysiological systems
* Software : Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or R for data analysis, and automation of experimental workflows
Communications: Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Personal skills : Creative, organized, self-motivated & able to work both independently & within a multidisciplinary team
We offer
* A stimulating interdisciplinary research environment linking bioengineering, cell biology and translational medicine
* Access to state-of-the-art microfluidic, organs-on-chip and imaging facilities
* Opportunities to collaborate with leading experts in vascular and lymphatic biology and COPD
* The successful PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)
* Salary according to the SNSF regulations
* A vibrant research setting in Bern, Switzerland's capital, surrounded by the Aare river and the Bernese Alps
Workplace
* ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, Murtenstrasse 50, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
* Contract duration: 4 years, Start: ideally January 2026 (negotiable)
Contact and Address
How to Apply
* Submit: Motivation Letter, CV list of publications, name and contact of two references, in a single pdf document to @ (headline: PhD position, project LYVA)
* The review of applications will start on December 1st, 2025. The position will remain open until it is filled.
Email