PhD Student Infection Biology and Biomedical Materials (ID2106)

Short Description

This PhD position is part of the PREPARE project (Programmable Release of Prophylactic Antibacterial & Response Enhancing agents), a collaborative initiative between the Infection Biology and Biomedical Materials Focus Areas at the AO Research Institute Davos and CK CARE (Prof. Pierre Yves Mantel). 
The Ph.D. student will be formally affiliated with the University of Fribourg and will be co-supervised by Prof. Michael Walch, Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine at the University of Fribourg.

Fracture-related infection (FRI) remains a major clinical challenge despite current prophylactic strategies. Increasing evidence shows that early infection establishment is driven by rapid formation of Staphylococcus aureus microaggregates and transient impairment of neutrophil antibacterial function following trauma.

The PREPARE project aims to address this problem by:

• Defining the earliest events enabling bacterial survival in the surgical field (aggregate formation, fibrin encapsulation, antibiotic tolerance)
• Identifying small-molecule immunomodulators that enhance neutrophil antibacterial activity
• Contributing to the development of next-generation responsive biomaterials for localized infection prevention

Start of work: Position will remain open until role is filled, preferred start by October 2026.

Duration: 4 years

Main Responsibilities

• Establish and optimise advanced 3D in vitro infection models (e.g. staphylococcal abscess communities)
• Investigate early events in infection establishment, including bacterial aggregation, fibrin encapsulation, and antibiotic tolerance
• Characterise neutrophil–bacteria interactions, including phagocytosis, ROS production, and bacterial killing
• Identify and evaluate immunomodulatory compounds that enhance neutrophil function
• Perform cell culture and co-culture experiments using primary human neutrophils and bacterial pathogens
• Apply advanced techniques including confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular assays
• Analyse and interpret complex experimental datasets
• Contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration with biomaterials researchers within the PREPARE project

Main Requirements

• Master’s degree in microbiology, infection biology, immunology, or a related life science discipline
• Practical experience in microbiology and/or host–pathogen interaction studies
• Experience with cell culture and immunological assays (e.g. flow cytometry, microscopy)
• Strong interest in infection biology, innate immunity, and translational research
• Ability to design, plan, and execute experimental studies independently
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Motivation to work in a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment

Additional desirable skills:

• Experience working with primary immune cells (especially neutrophils)
• Familiarity with 3D cell culture or infection models
• Knowledge of bacterial physiology, antibiotic tolerance, or biofilms
• Experience with advanced imaging or transcriptomic approaches
• Interest in translational research and biomaterials-based therapeutic strategies