PhD student – Antibiotic biosensor protein engineering
The Biozentrum at the University of Basel is offering a fully funded PhD position in the research group of Prof. Knut Drescher, focused on antibiotic biosensor protein engineering. The project sits within the Swiss National Competence Center in Research (NCCR) AntiResist, a national effort to address the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
The research aims to develop new allosteric biosensors for major classes of antibiotics. These biosensors will help measure local antibiotic concentrations at infection sites with high spatial and temporal resolution, improving understanding of why antibiotics sometimes fail and supporting more precise infection biology studies. The project builds on prior work in which the group developed the first allosteric biosensors for antibiotics, and now seeks to extend this approach using protein design and protein engineering.
The work combines computational and experimental methods. The successful candidate will help design biosensor candidates, convert them into functional biosensors in bacterial cells, and apply them in infection biology assays. Example applications include biofilm treatment studies, stem-cell-derived organoids, and bioengineered tissue infection systems. The lab emphasizes molecular microbiology, biochemistry, protein design, biophysics, bioinformatics, and analysis of large datasets.
The position is suitable for a highly motivated candidate with a Master’s degree and a research thesis in molecular microbiology, protein biochemistry, protein design, or a related discipline. The Biozentrum offers a highly interactive, multidisciplinary, and international environment, with access to expert core facilities and a structured PhD program. The PhD student will also join the NCCR AntiResist consortium, creating opportunities for collaboration and scientific exchange across Switzerland.
Basel provides a strong research environment and an excellent quality of life, with numerous biomedical institutions and a location at the border of Switzerland, Germany, and France. The application deadline is 2026-08-07. Applications must be submitted via the online form only, and should include a brief research statement, a CV, and contact information for two references.
