ETH Zürich's Animal Nutrition group, led by Assistant Professor Mutian Niu, is recruiting a PhD student for a cutting-edge project in dairy cattle physiology and health. The research focuses on metabolic discovery and mechanistic physiology using exhalomics (exhaled breath metabolomics) to advance sustainability in dairy farming. The successful candidate will work at the interface of ruminant nutrition, animal health, and physiological phenotyping, integrating animal experiments with advanced analytical techniques and bioinformatics.

The project includes three main components: (1) controlled nutritional experiments to study dietary impacts on rumen function and metabolism, (2) immune challenge experiments to investigate inflammatory states and metabolic signatures, and (3) large-scale exhalomics comparing healthy and hospitalized animals. The work involves in vivo and in vitro experiments, physiological and metabolic sampling (rumen, breath, blood, fecal, urine, milk), and high-resolution mass spectrometry data analysis. Collaboration with world-leading researchers from Iowa State University, PSI Paul Scherrer Institut, and University of Zurich is part of the program.

Applicants should have a Master's degree in Animal Science, Biology, Physiology, Veterinary Science, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, or related fields. Essential skills include experimental work, motivation for animal research, scientific curiosity, teamwork, and English proficiency. Experience in metabolomics, mass spectrometry, nutritional or immunological models, analytical chemistry, and data science/bioinformatics is advantageous.

ETH Zürich offers a stimulating research environment, competitive salary, flexible working hours, and support for work-life balance. The university values diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. Application evaluation and interviews start January 5, 2026, with a preferred start date in Spring 2026. To apply, submit a cover letter, CV with publication list, transcripts, Master thesis (if available), and contact details for 2-3 professional references via the ETH Zurich online application system. For questions, contact Mutian Niu at [email protected] (no applications by email).

Keywords: Animal Nutrition, Dairy Cattle Physiology, Metabolomics, Exhalomics, Ruminant Nutrition, Animal Health, Physiological Phenotyping, Mass Spectrometry, Bioinformatics, Sustainability.