Fully Funded PhD Position in Experimental Microbiology in University of Basel, Switzerland

A highly exciting PhD opportunity is available at the University of Basel within the Department of Biomedicine for students interested in microbiology, infectious diseases, bacterial genetics, and advanced imaging technologies.This project focuses on understanding antibiotic tolerance in Mycobacterium abscessus — one of the most difficult bacterial pathogens to treat clinically. About the ProjectThe PhD position is part of an international research consortium involving scientists from Switzerland, Israel, Australia, and the USA. The research combines:
• Experimental microbiology
• Live-cell imaging
• High-throughput phenotyping
• CRISPRi and transposon mutagenesis screening
• Quantitative single-cell analysisThe lab has developed a cutting-edge live-cell imaging platform capable of tracking hundreds of millions of bacteria during antibiotic exposure to understand why treatments fail despite apparent drug sensitivity. Research Focus
The project aims to uncover:
• Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic tolerance
• Bacterial survival strategies under drug exposure
• Genetic factors influencing treatment outcomes
• Single-cell bacterial killing dynamics Your Role
As a PhD researcher, you will:
• Perform high-content live-cell imaging experiments
• Analyse bacterial viability under antibiotic exposure
• Work with clinical isolates and diverse environmental conditions
• Collaborate with postdoctoral researchers and international experts
• Generate and analyse large-scale datasets
• Integrate imaging data with CRISPRi and mutagenesis screening results Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should have:
• MSc degree in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or related fields
• Experience in microbiology or molecular biology
• Interest in both computational and experimental research approaches
• Strong scientific curiosity and motivation
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Good English communication skills What the Programme Offers
• Fully funded PhD position
• Competitive salary in Switzerland
• Training in advanced imaging and automation technologies
• International collaborative research environment
• Opportunity to work on clinically impactful infectious disease research
• Excellent quality of life in Basel, Switzerland Application Documents
Submit a single PDF including:
• Motivation letter
• CV
• Academic transcripts
• Contact details of at least two references Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in microbiology, infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance/tolerance, imaging technologies, and translational biomedical research.