Postdoctoral Scientist in Tissue Engineering of Orthopaedic Implants

Human joints must withstand a lifetime of physical loading.  The interface between cartilage-bone interface, or osteochondral (OC) unit, is a site of frequent injury.  In addition, diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) cause pathological changes to the OC unit, involving cartilage destruction, sclerotic bone, and pain, which can ultimately necessitate total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The field of tissue engineering is searching for new methods to create biomimetic tissue models which better replicate the organization of native osteochondral junction.   We believe these advances can one day be used to resurface osteoarthritic joints. Our goal is to improve treatment of joint disease by matching natural biomechanics, promoting tissue regeneration, and avoiding synthetic materials prone to wear and failure. The methodology we will develop could one day provide robust, biocompatible solutions for OC regeneration of the aging population.

You will join a multi-PI consortium consisting of biomedical engineers and clinicians. We aim to use natural materials to bioengineer patient-specific osteochondral grafts that mimic the architecture, zonal organization and functional properties of native OC tissue as closely as possible. The osteochondral unit is comprised of transitions from hyaline articular cartilage, calcified cartilage zone, subchondral bone plate and subchondral cancellous bone.  Using 3D computer models based on native subchondral bone architecture, a high-resolution model of the subchondral microarchitecture will be printed from a bioceramic known for its outstanding toughness, strength and osseointegrative properties. Cellular layers of hyaline and calcified cartilage will be bonded to the bioceramic base and matured in a bioreactor until matching the native tissue.  The efficacy of these personalized grafts to regenerate OC lesions will be tested in an articular cartilage/subchondral bone defect model in sheep.  We hypothesize that these OC implants will be able to 1) restore the load-carrying capacity of the joint, 2) provide a mechanically stable support bed for the hyaline cartilage layer and 3) promote physiologic cartilage/bone crosstalk needed for long term joint homeostasis. 

• Development and validation of a functional in vitro osteochondral tissue model based on 3D printed ceramic and engineered cartilage
• Study of crosstalk and transport across the tissue interface
• Upscale of technology and show proof-of-concept resurfacing of arthritic joints
• Development of surgical inplantation strategies
• Project coordination between the consortium partners and training of clinical partners
• Project reporting 

You have a PhD in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, material science or related fields. Previous experience cartilage/bone tissue engineering, biomaterials, biomechanics, and surgical instrumentation is advantageous.  A flair for excellent written and oral communciation as well as effective managerial skills are essential.

The open position is in the Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication Laboratory (Prof. Marcy Zenobi-Wong) within the Department of Health Sciences & Technolgy (D-HEST) at ETH Zürich in Zurich, Switzerland.  We offer you a stimulating, collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment in a world-class research institution. ETH Zürich is an outstanding employer with excellent compensation and benefits, with ample opportunities for career development and mentoring. We encourage experimentation and creativity by actively promoting the learning of new technologies and approaches on the job.