Niko Beerenwinkel

Doctoral Student in High-throughput Analysis of Protein-Protein Interactions at ETH Zurich / University of Basel (Basel). This PhD project sits at the interface of protein engineering , molecular biophysics , mechanobiology , high-throughput screening , and machine learning . The Nash Lab (Lab for Engineering Synthetic Systems) is jointly affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Basel and the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering of ETH Zurich in Basel. The project aims to develop high-throughput methods using molecular surface display and deep sequencing to measure force-dependent behavior in protein systems, with a proof-of-concept application to blood clotting interactions relevant to Von Willebrand disease. The doctoral student will establish and validate a quantitative assay for mechanical stability of a protein-protein interaction, cross-validate results with AFM, design DNA variant libraries, perform yeast display and next-generation sequencing, build computational pipelines to convert sequencing data into quantitative fitness values, and collaborate with a computational biology group to develop and benchmark machine learning models. The role also includes preparing manuscripts, presenting results, and contributing to undergraduate teaching and practical supervision. Eligibility highlights: a Master's degree in bioengineering, chemical engineering, biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, or a related field; strong quantitative skills; interest in protein engineering and mechanobiology; experience with molecular biology/protein expression preferred; Python or equivalent data analysis skills; fluent English; eligibility for the D-BSSE Doctoral program in Basel. Funding: competitive Swiss doctoral salary standards plus conference support. How to apply: submit the required documents via the ETH Zurich online portal only. The post asks for a cover letter to Prof. Michael Nash, CV, transcripts, thesis/report, optional publications/preprints, and two references. Questions go to [email protected].