PhD Position in Electrochemical Sensing for Health Applications (SDC18) ETH Zürich in Switzerland

ETH Zürich invites applications for a PhD position in Electrochemical Sensing for Health Applications (SDC18), embedded within the Horizon Europe ENDOTRAIN Doctoral Training Network. ENDOTRAIN aims to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of adrenal disorders by integrating clinical endocrinology, artificial intelligence, data science, engineering, ethics, and law into digital endocrinology. The successful candidate will join the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering and the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, benefiting from a unique interdisciplinary research environment at one of Europe’s leading technical universities.

The project focuses on nanotechnology-enhanced electrochemical sensors for highly sensitive, selective, and reversible biomarker detection. Research will center on designing and fabricating functional electrode coating materials (nano-enzymes) and surface architectures that enable reversible analyte binding, high signal stability, and resistance to biofouling during long-term operation. The PhD candidate will be co-hosted by the Human-centered Sensing Laboratory (Prof. Andreas Güntner) and the Laboratory of Exercise and Health (Prof. Katrien de Bock), providing access to expertise in sensor engineering and health science.

Key tasks include engineering redox-active or affinity-based interfaces (nanoparticles, single-atom isolates, artificial enzymes) with tunable binding kinetics, integrating them with transduction schemes for high sensitivity and selectivity in complex media, and validating these systems in vitro and ex vivo. The candidate will also support in vivo tests in mouse models and clinical trials, with secondments at Imperial College London (electrochemical sensing strategies) and University Hospital Zurich (testing on humans).

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in (Electro-)Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field, demonstrate strong interest in translational health technologies, and possess excellent English communication skills. Experience in sensor design, nanoparticle fabrication, or single-atom catalysts is desirable. Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment and must meet Swiss PhD eligibility criteria. Participation in ENDOTRAIN’s interdisciplinary training, including workshops, retreats, and cohort-wide meetings across Europe, is mandatory.

ETH Zürich offers a competitive salary according to Swiss National Science Foundation regulations, full social security coverage, travel and secondment budget, and opportunities for international networking, industry exposure, and career development. The university values diversity, sustainability, and an inclusive culture, promoting equality of opportunity and a climate-neutral future.

Applications should be submitted via the ETH online portal as a single merged PDF document (cover letter, CV, transcripts, references, and representative research work). Informal inquiries can be directed to Prof. Andreas Güntner ([email protected]). More information about the involved research groups is available at the Human-centered Sensing Laboratory and Laboratory of Exercise and Health websites.

Join ETH Zürich and contribute to cutting-edge research in electrochemical sensing for health, with access to world-class facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a vibrant academic community in Switzerland.