Postgraduate Intern Position in Cellular Crosstalk in Organoid Systems

The intestinal mucosa forms an integral barrier between our bodies and the outside world. Being exposed to a huge variety of metabolites and microbes taken up with our food or stably colonizing the intestine, it is permeable for essential nutrients while serving as a protective barrier to prevent microbial translocation. A tight balance between the intestinal epithelium, immune cells in the underlying tissue and the intestinal microbiota present in the lumen maintains intestinal homeostasis. The impairment of this balance can trigger disease, such as infection, metabolic disorders, and chronic inflammation (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease). The Hausmann group focuses on understanding how these key players interact to maintain intestinal homeostasis, with a special interest in the intestinal epithelium. We make use of state-of-the-art in vitro organoid models, omics techniques and bioengineering approaches to dissect cellular crosstalk in the intestinal mucosa in homeostasis and inflammation. 

We offer a Postgraduate Intern position (9-12 months, 50-70%) in the Hausmann group. The Epithelium-Microbiota Crosstalk group of Dr. Annika Hausmann (SNSF Ambizione group leader) is embedded in the Mucosal Immunology lab headed by Prof. Emma Slack, forms part of the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health and belongs to the Department for Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) at ETH Zürich. Here, engineers, materials scientists, biochemists and biologists work together to solve some of the most pressing societal issues, such as microbiota-associated and chronic inflammatory diseases.

We are looking for an outstanding candidate who completed their studies (MSc) with high intrinsic motivation, who is passionate about driving and performing research in an interdisciplinary team and can work independently. Experience in at least two of the following areas is required, additional experience highly beneficial: organoid culture or other cell culture work, mucosal immunology, bioengineering (hydrogels, microfluidics), genetic engineering, metabolism and/or microbiology. We are a diverse and multinational team, which requires good communication skills and fluency in English.

The Hausmann group is embedded in the highly interdisciplinary Mucosal Immunology lab headed by Prof. Emma Slack at ETH Zürich (Hönggerberg Campus). We offer regular group and 1-1 meetings; the possibility to lead your research project with a high degree of independence and to contribute to collaborative research projects in- and outside the team. You will be part of an exceptional, dynamic research environment with a strong microbiology, immunology, and epithelial cell biology network at ETH and UZH, have access to state-of-the-art facilities and a variety of stimulating internal and external seminars.