PhD Position on Nanozyme-based coating for antimicrobial implants

Design and synthesize nanozymes: Develop nanozymes, and optimize their physicochemical and catalytic properties. Develop functional implant coatings: Establish reproducible strategies for integrating nanozymes onto implant surfaces and investigate their compatibility with different implant architectures and surface modifications. Evaluate antimicrobial activity: Investigate the ability of nanozyme-coated surfaces to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation while reducing reliance on conventional antibiotics. Investigate nano–bio interactions: Study cellular responses to nanozyme-coated implants, including cytocompatibility, macrophage activation, cytokine production and parameters related to osteointegration. Study stability, ageing and biodegradation: Investigate the transformation of low-dimensional nanozyme coatings in biologically relevant fluids.

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain. The Nanomaterials in Health Lab is a truly interdisciplinary environment that conducts pioneered investigations on particle bio-functionalization, particles uptake, accumulation, translocation across biological barriers and their bio-responses. With this we provide key contributions to novel personalized strategies of particles design for drug delivery, imaging or diagnosis. The position is within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network Implant-to-Market (i2M), providing an international and interdisciplinary training environment connecting materials science, biology, medical devices and regulatory science.

• Motivation and Commitments to dive into an interdisciplinary challenge

• Completed Master’s degree in biomaterials, chemistry, nanotechnology, or biomedical engineering.

• Experience in nanomaterial synthesis and characterization.

• Familiarity with cell culture and in vitro assays.

• Experience in catalysis, programming and large data analysis is a plus.

• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (written and oral).