Open positions
A PHD and a Postdoc position are now open
One PhD (4 years) and one Postdoc position (3 years) are available in Professor Chan Cao’s group in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ, Switzerland.
The research group is focused on developing novel nano-biotechnologies, with a particular emphasis on nanopore technology. Nanopores have been successfully applied in sequencing long DNA and have the potential to revolutionize proteomics, providing high sensitivity for the detection of low-abundance proteins and high specificity in mixtures. More important, nanopore measurement is portable, cheap, fast, and allows the characterization of molecules with sub-angstrom resolution without the need for additional labels/amplification in aqueous solution.
The main goal of the group is to transform nanopore technology for proteomics analysis and to explore its potential in other applications, like glycan characterization, disease diagnostic, and decoding digital polymers. In this position, you will join a dynamic team of analytical chemists, biophysicists, biochemists, and computational & structure biologists.
These two positions are funded by SNSF, focusing on nanopore detection of glycans. Glycans are major building blocks of life. They play a central role in many biological processes and are involved in most major diseases. However, glycoscience remains relatively understudied due to a lack of tools to probe the highly diverse, heterogeneous and complex structures of glycans. Therefore, we aim to develop biological nanopores as a novel analytical tool for glycan analysis, with the benefits of high sensitivity, low-cost, label-free, high-throughput, and potential for integrating into portable devices. The research is inherently interdisciplinary, intersecting biochemistry, biophysics, glycobiology, and bionanotechnology.
The applicant should:
· Having at least one of the following backgrounds: Biophysics, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Glycobiology, bioengineering or ​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹Molecular Biology.
· Having experience in Coding, Glycan Synthesis or Analysis, and Protein Production is an advantage.
· Be able to work independently and collaboratively with good communication.
How to apply:
The review of applications will start on February 1, 2025 until the position is filled. Applicants must submit one merged PDF file that includes a letter of motivation (max 1 page), a CV, undergraduate and master transcripts, and the names and email addresses of at least two professional references who have agreed to provide a letter of recommendation if contacted.
The desired starting date is between September and October 2025.
For informal inquiries regarding the position and for submitting your application, please send an email to Prof. Chan Cao at .
We welcome you to join our lab!
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Others
We are always happy to host enthusiastic exchange PhD students, Master and Bachelor students with a strong passion for science and research. Candidates are invited to send their application, including a letter of motivation (up to one page), CV and the names of 2 referees via email to
Please check following fellowships: