Post-doctoral position in the field of neural stem cell metabolism

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

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Presentation

Metabolism has emerged as a key player in the regulation of stem cells. Our laboratory’s focus lays on neural stem cells, which generate neurons and astrocytes during brain development and persist throughout adulthood. We are specifically interested in the role of lipid metabolism and the lipid storing organelles called lipid droplets (LDs) and how they influence neural stem cells and their progeny, from development through adulthood and aging (Petrelli et al. Nat. Cell Biol. 2026). We showed that LDs play a crucial role for adult neural stem cells (Ramosaj Madsen et al. Nat. Commun. 2021) and have developed an exciting novel endogenous LD reporter mouse line (Madsen et al., Nat. Commun. 2024), which allows the staining-free visualization of LDs in living and fixed tissues and cells. We could show that LDs are highly abundant in the healthy brain and increase with aging (Rey Petrelli et al. in press), which has opened a lot of questions about their role for brain development and normal brain function.
We are using innovative techniques such as virus-mediated gene expression in vitro and in vivo, time-lapse imaging, single cell RNA sequencing, as well as proteomic, metabolomic and lipidomic approaches. To tackle our questions, we use various mouse models as well as human iPSC-derived brain organoids. 

Job information

Expected start date in position : Earliest 01.07.2026 

Contract length : 2 years, initial contract 1 year, renewable depending on funding

Activity rate : 100%

Workplace : Lausanne, quartier UNIL-Bugnon

Your responsibilities

This postdoctoral project will focus on the role of lipid metabolism and LDs in human neural stem cells during brain development, using mainly human iPSC-derived neural stem cells and brain organoids.

Your qualifications

Requirements: 
- PhD degree in life science or equivalent;
- Strong interest in cell and developmental biology, neurobiology and metabolism;
- Fluency in English (oral and written); 
- Experience in cell culture (required);
- Previous research experience with human iPSC-derived brain organoids (desirable);
- Experience in the analysis of single cell RNA sequencing data (desirable)

What the position offers you

We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment. Opportunities for professional training, a lot of activities and other benefits to discover.

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Contact for further information

Webpage: https://wp.unil.ch/knobloch-lab/
Bluesky: Marlen E-Mail schreiben

Your application

Highly motivated candidates should send their application (in PDF) and include a letter of motivation, CV and 2 reference letters. 

Deadline : 15.05.2026

Please, send your full application in Word or PDF.
Only applications through this website will be taken into account.

We thank you for your understanding.

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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