PhD Student in advancing 2D material safety assessment

Empa – the place where innovation starts

Empa is the research institute for materials science and technology of the ETH Domain and conducts cutting-edge research for the benefit of industry and the well-being of society.

The Particles-Biology Interactions Lab enables particle-based solutions for diagnostics and therapeutics driven by clinical needs.The team possesses many years of experience and expertise in nanomaterial–biology interactions, including characterizing, understanding and steering the interaction of particulate materials with human cells or biological barrier tissues and provide expertise in the interdisciplinary field of particulate materials safety and applications for industry or authorities.

We are looking for a

PhD Student in advancing 2D material safety assessment

This PhD project, which is in the context of the European project MACRAME, aims to further assess the safety profile of 2D materials (graphene related materials and MXenes) after inhalation and skin interaction. To do so, advanced human multicellular 3D cultures representing lung and skin will be used.

The PhD student will be enrolled at ETH Zürich in the Department of Health Science and Technology.  

• We are looking for an excellent candidate that is motivated to synthetize and characterize MXene batches, use human advanced in vitro culture systems representing either lung or skin.
• The successful candidate should hold a MSc or equivalent degree in life- or biomedical science, toxicology or a related discipline.
• The candidate should preferably have previous experience in in vitro cell culture methodologies, toxicity and hazard assessment, and a basic understanding of nanomaterials, preferentially 2D materials.
• Very good communication skills in English, orally and written, are required.

Our laboratory offers a highly interdisciplinary research environment to perform research relevant for science and regulators. Our young team consists of experienced scientists, postdocs as well as PhD and master students. For more details visit: https://www.empa.ch/web/s403 .