BIPED Application Portal

Starting immediately or as per agreement

The Biozentrum of the University of Basel is one of the world’s leading life sciences institutes. With 33 groups and 500 employees, we are a dynamic and international research community that has spawned many fundamental discoveries in biology and medicine as well as several Nobel Laureates. Become part of our community!

The research group of Prof. Knut Drescher at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel seeks to appoint a PhD student in molecular microbiology, with a focus on bacterial biofilms. The position is available immediately or by mutual agreement.

The project

The research group of Knut Drescher (https://drescherlab.org) focuses on understanding the development and emergent properties of bacterial communities (called “biofilms”). Biofilms are antibiotic-tolerant bacterial communities that are the cause of many chronic and acute infections in humans, but biofilms are also a model system for understanding basic aspects of multicellular organization in living systems. Our projects utilize highly controlled laboratory experiments based on microfluidic growth systems for biofilms, and stem-cell-derived organoids and bioengineered tissues for infections. We recently made important discoveries about danger signals that trigger biofilm formation (Nature Microbiology 2025) and emergent behaviors of biofilms (Cell 2023) that are the basis for the PhD project.

The PhD project will investigate new emergent behaviors of biofilm communities that do not occur in isolated bacterial cells. The project will utilize a variety of molecular tools to analyze, manipulate, and perturb biofilms. A particular focus will be on the use of transcriptomics, genetics, and confocal microscopy methods for investigating cellular behaviors in biofilms during biofilm growth and during infections. The exact project is flexible and will be developed together with Knut Drescher, depending on the strengths and interests of the PhD student.

To get an overview of our lab’s recent projects, take a look at our publications: https://drescherlab.org/publications.html

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and talented PhD student to join our lab. Required qualification: A Master's degree with a research thesis in molecular microbiology.

We offer

We offer a fully funded PhD position in a highly interactive, multidisciplinary, and international research group at the Biozentrum. Our group brings together expertise in molecular microbiology, biophysics, as well as bioinformatics and the analysis of large datasets. Additionally, the PhD student will be part of the Swiss NCCR AntiResist consortium, with lots of opportunities for scientific exchange with colleagues in related fields. Moreover, the Biozentrum offers excellent support from various core facilities with expert staff, and a structured PhD program. Our group embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Basel is an international city with people from over 150 countries, located on the border where Switzerland, Germany, and France meet. Basel is home to numerous biomedical research institutions, offering outstanding opportunities for training, networking, and career development. Basel provides a high standard of living and a rich and varied cultural atmosphere.

Application / Contact

Application deadline: 15 November 2026.

Please note that only applications through the online form will be accepted.

For any informal enquiries, please contact: knut.drescher@unibas.ch

Starting immediately or by mutual agreement

The Biozentrum of the University of Basel is one of the world’s leading life sciences institutes. With 33 research groups and 500 employees, we are a dynamic and international research community that has spawned many fundamental discoveries in biology and medicine as well as several Nobel laureates. Join our community!

The research group of Prof. Marek Basler seeks to appoint a highly motivated PhD student in molecular microbiology, protein biochemistry and bacterial cell biology. The project focuses on unraveling the molecular mechanisms that control the assembly and function of the Type 6 secretion system.

The project

The bacterial Type 6 secretion system (T6SS) is one of the largest dynamic assemblies in Gram-negative bacteria. It shares evolutionary origins with contractile phage tails and other extracellular contractile protein translocation nanomachines. Importantly, the unique mode of action of T6SS allows bacteria to deliver folded proteins across membranes of neighboring bacterial or eukaryotic cells (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-025-01256-w). Subcellular localization of T6SS assembly and timing of its firing is tightly regulated in various bacteria:

• Spatial positioning: Live-cell super-resolution imaging showed that Acinetobacter position their T6SS specifically at contact sites with neighboring bacteria (https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2021108595).
• Tit-for-tat response: Atomic force microscopy and live-cell imaging demonstrated that T6SS assembly in Pseudomonas responds to attacks by sensing membrane damage (https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adr1713).
• Host interaction: During infection, T6SS in Burkholderia assembles when bacteria are trapped in membrane protrusions, enabling cell-to-cell spread (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2024.03.013).

Despite these breakthroughs, we still lack a fundamental mechanistic understanding of how precise timing and spatial localization are achieved, and the specific signals that trigger T6SS assembly remain unknown.

Learn more about our recent research: Basler Lab Group Overview and Google Scholar

Your profile

We are looking for a curious, talented, and highly motivated PhD student to join our team!

• Required Qualifications: An MSc degree with a research thesis in molecular microbiology, protein biochemistry, protein-protein interactions, electron microscopy, bacterial signaling, or a related discipline.
• Desirable Skills: Prior hands-on experience with live-cell imaging is an advantage.

We offer

• Environment: A fully funded PhD position in a highly interactive, multidisciplinary, and international research group combining expertise in molecular microbiology, biochemistry, imaging, and infection biology.
• Development: Structured PhD program with extensive opportunities for training, networking, and scientific exchange.
• Facilities: Outstanding support from specialized Biozentrum core facilities (e.g. Imaging, Biophysics, Electron Microscopy) staffed by expert scientists.
• Location: Basel is a vibrant, highly international city located where Switzerland, Germany, and France meet. It offers an exceptional standard of living, rich cultural activities, and proximity to major biomedical hubs.

Application / Contact

Please submit your application exclusively via our Online Application Form.

Required Materials:

• A brief statement detailing your research experience and specific motivation for this position.
• A comprehensive CV.
• Contact information for at least two academic references.

Review of applications will start in September and proceed until the position is filled.

For informal inquiries, feel free to contact Prof. Marek Basler at: marek.basler@unibas.ch

Excellent students from all over the world are encouraged to apply for the prestigious "Biozentrum PhD Fellowships" program. The aim of the fellowships which are sponsored by the Werner Siemens-Foundation and the University of Basel is to select and promote highly talented graduate students in the area of Life Sciences. The fellowships offer direct access to the PhD program of the Biozentrum, University of Basel, additional financial support, a rotation-based selection of the research group, and support for the attendance of scientific meetings and courses during the PhD.

The Biozentrum offers a limited number of scholarships for international candidates who are applying for the MSc Physics of Life with outstanding records of accomplishment. These scholarships are highly competitive and the selection criteria are primarily academic excellence and motivation. The program starts spring semester 2027.