Postdoctoral and PhD Positions in Neurotechnology: Drug/Biologics Carrier Formulation & Chemical Engineering for Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Brain Drug Delivery

The successful candidate will play a central role in the chemical formulation, engineering, and characterization of drug carriers for our focused ultrasound-mediated targeted drug delivery platform. Depending on experience and interests, the project may include: Design and synthesis of ultrasound-responsive drug carrier formulations (e.g., microbubbles, nanodroplets, liposomes, or polymeric/lipid nanoparticles); Optimization of drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and release kinetics; Physicochemical characterization of carriers (size, zeta potential, stability, morphology); Chemical engineering of carrier production processes (e.g., microfluidics, emulsification, sonication); Assessment of carrier stability under ultrasound exposure and physiological conditions; In vitro and in vivo evaluation of drug loading, release, and therapeutic efficacy; Analytical method development for carrier and drug quantification (e.g., HPLC, DLS); Integration of carrier formulations with focused ultrasound delivery systems; Collaboration with engineers and clinicians to prepare first-in-human clinical studies; Contribution to regulatory-compliant formulation development and quality control.

The Neurotechnology Group of Prof. Mehmet Fatih Yanik at ETH Zurich is recruiting outstanding postdoctoral researchers and PhD students to join a newly funded LOOP Zurich Flagship Project focused on advancing a breakthrough technology to clinic for non-invasive targeted drug delivery to the brain. The project is conducted in close collaboration with Swiss Epilepsy Clinic Lengg, the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital Zurich, and the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich.

• Applicants for the PhD position should hold a Bachelor’s degree and preferably also a Master’s degree; applicants for the postdoctoral position should hold a PhD, in one of the following disciplines: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmaceutics, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field

• Excellent academic records from excellent institutions

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, incl. programming (Python, MATLAB, or similar)

• Experimental laboratory experience in drug formulation, nanoparticle/microbubble synthesis, colloid chemistry, or related fields

• Hands-on experience with carrier characterization techniques (e.g., dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, HPLC, electron microscopy)

• Microfluidic synthesis/purification expertise

• Knowledge of drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and release kinetics assessment

• Strong motivation for translational drug delivery research and medical innovation

• For postdoctoral applicants, a track record of peer-reviewed publications in drug delivery, nanomedicine, or pharmaceutical sciences

• Good communication skills, being able to work independently as well as being part of a multidisciplinary team are essential requirements. Additionally, the following qualifications are considered positively: Animal experiment experience (e.g., in vivo drug delivery studies, small animal handling, surgical procedures, imaging, or pharmacokinetic/biodistribution assessment); Previous experience with focused ultrasound, drug delivery, or biomedical instrumentation.