PhD Position - Engineering Organs-on-Chip for Lymphatic–Vascular Studies

ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research
The ARTORG Organs-on-Chip Technologies Lab (Prof. O. Guenat) integrates microfluidic engineering with advanced cell biology to create next-generation disease models. In collaboration with ETH Zürich (Prof. C. Halin) and the University of Bern (Prof. C. Bourquin), this project aims to advance understanding of the human lung's lymphatic vasculature in health and disease, with a focus on COPD, through the development of innovative organ-on-chip systems.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student with a background in engineering and microfluidics who is eager to contribute to the development of advanced organ-on-chip (OOC) systems. The successful candidate will play a central role in designing and building innovative microphysiological models to study lymphatic–vascular interactions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Microfluidics: Strong theoretical and practical understanding of fluid dynamics, fluidic circuit design, and numerical simulation (e.g., COMSOL Multiphysics or ANSYS) and experience in designing, optimizing and validating microfluidic systems for biological applications
• Microfabrication & CAD: Strong engineering intuition and hands-on experience in developing and prototyping novel microfluidic systems (e.g., soft lithography, 3D printing) with experience in CAD-based device design and experimental validation
• Cell culture: Practical experience with cell culture in microfluidic systems, including co-culture approaches, and skilled in fluorescence microscopy and image analysis for functional read-outs of microphysiological systems
• Software: Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or R for data analysis, and automation of experimental workflows
• Communications: Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Personal skills: Creative, organized, self-motivated & able to work both independently & within a multidisciplinary team

• Model development: Collaborate with research partners in Bern and Zurich to develop multi-compartments OOC systems integrating blood and lymphatic vasculature with key mechanical cues of the lung microenvironment
• Characterization: Design chips based on microfluidic and physical principles, fabricate & optimize using state-of-the-art microfabrication techniques and characterize chip performance (fluidics, mechanics, and reproducibility)
• Method development: Design and implement specific functional read-outs and quantitative assays to assess vascularlymphatic interactions.
• Collaboration & dissemination: work closely with research partners, contribute to publications and present results at international conferences

• A stimulating interdisciplinary research environment linking bioengineering, cell biology and translational medicine
• Access to state-of-the-art microfluidic, organs-on-chip and imaging facilities
• Opportunities to collaborate with leading experts in vascular and lymphatic biology and COPD
• The successful PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)
• Salary according to the SNSF regulations
• A vibrant research setting in Bern, Switzerland's capital, surrounded by the Aare river and the Bernese Alps

Workplace: ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, Murtenstrasse 50, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
Contract duration: 4 years
Start: ideally January 2026 (negotiable)

The review of applications will start on December 1st, 2025. The position will remain open until it is filled.