Postdoctoral Position: Mechanotyping of Complex Cellular Systems ETH Zürich in Switzerland

This postdoctoral position at ETH Zürich focuses on the mechanotyping of complex cellular systems, integrating advanced nanotechnological tools, cell biology, and systems-level quantitative biology. The research aims to elucidate how mechanical properties, forces, and physical phenotypes interact with molecular networks to regulate cellular function across multiple biological scales. The project is situated within the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering in Basel, offering collaboration with leading groups in cell, organoid, and computational biology.

Cells are inherently mechanically heterogeneous, composed of proteins, membranes, and compartments with distinct physical properties. They continuously sense and respond to mechanical cues such as adhesion, stiffness, tension, shear, pressure, and confinement, integrating these signals from nanometers to tissues to regulate collective behavior. Mechanobiology seeks to understand how cells, tissues, and organoids perceive, process, and remodel mechanical signals, governing fundamental functions like homeostasis, growth, differentiation, migration, development, and apoptosis. Despite advances, a multiscale understanding of mechanical information integration in multicellular systems remains limited. This project addresses these challenges by developing engineered multicellular models, new quantitative tools, and theoretical frameworks to interpret mechanobiological complexity.

The successful candidate will work at the interface of mechanobiology, nanotechnology, systems biology, and quantitative biology, developing and applying innovative experimental and analytical approaches. Research directions include quantitative mechanotyping of single cells, tissues, and multicellular systems (such as organoids and spheroids), development and application of nanotechnological platforms for force sensing and mechanical phenotyping, advanced cell biological techniques (live-cell imaging, super-resolution microscopy, genetically encoded reporters), systems biology approaches to integrate mechanical phenotypes with molecular and transcriptional networks, quantitative modeling and data-driven analysis, and high-throughput multi-scale approaches linking mechanical properties to functional outcomes.

The position offers substantial freedom to shape novel experimental pipelines bridging physical measurements with systems-level biological insight. The environment is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, with access to state-of-the-art nanofabrication facilities and expertise at ETH Zürich campuses. Support benefits include networking, career development, regular seminars, and symposia within the Basel ecosystem. The position is fully funded for 1-2 years, with possible extension based on performance and funding.

Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent in relevant fields (cell biology, mechanobiology, bionanotechnology, systems biology, quantitative biology, computational biosystems analysis). Required experience includes human and animal cell biology, cellular systems, and organoids, as well as expertise in micro-/nanofabrication, advanced optical microscopy, image analysis, and computational analysis. Interest in molecular and cellular biophysics, bionanotechnology, cell and tissue biology, high-end optical microscopy, phenotyping, and multiplexing is welcome. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively, excellent organizational skills, high reliability, a strong scientific communication and publishing record, and fluent English communication skills.

ETH Zürich is renowned for its excellence in science and technology, offering a diverse and inclusive environment that promotes independent thinking and inspires excellence. Sustainability and equality of opportunity are core values. Applications are accepted exclusively through the online portal, with required documents including a letter of motivation, CV with publications, two letters of recommendation, a brief statement of research interests, and a copy of the doctoral degree certificate. The application deadline is March 1, 2026, with evaluation on a rolling basis. For questions, contact Prof. Dr. Daniel J. Müller at [email protected] (no applications via email).