PhD Student advancing in vitro to in vivo assessments

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.

In line with Empa’s mission, the Technology and Society Laboratory (TSL) creates and transfers knowledge to support the transition to a more sustainability society. In particular, TSL analyses novel materials and emerging technology applications with a focus on associated material and energy stocks and flows, and evaluates them with regard to both natural environment and societal constraints. 

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 nanomaterialbiology 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. 

These two laboratories are looking for a joint appointment of a

PhD Student advancing in vitro to in vivo assessments

This PhD project in the context of the European project MACRAME aims to further develop the use of in vitro data in environmental and human risk assessment and life cycle assessment. In alignment with the EU strategies to secure the safety and sustainability of enabling and emerging technologies, the MACRAME Project focusses on the development of methodologies that are applicable to “Advanced Materials” and that are aligned with future-oriented innovation, safety and sustainability considerations. This will be achieved in close collaboration with the project partners. 

The PhD student will be enrolled at ETH Zürich in the Department of Environmental System Science under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Bernd Nowack.

We are looking for an excellent candidate interested in pioneering and using novel methods to assess the impacts and sustainability of new compounds. The successful candidate should hold a MSc degree in environmental sciences, toxicology or a related discipline. The candidate should preferably have previous experience with in vitro - in vivo extrapolation methodology, (environmental) risk assessment and a basic understanding of cell-based in vitro models. Very good communication skills in English, orally and written, are required.

The two involved laboratories offer a highly interdisciplinary research environment to perform research relevant for science and regulators. Our young teams consist of experienced scientists, post docs as well as PhD and master students. For more details visit

www.empa.ch/tsl

and

https://www.empa.ch/web/s403

.