PhD position

PhD POSITION

NeuroRestore is a research and innovation center spanning EPFL and the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) that develops and applies medical therapies aimed at restoring neurological function. We integrate implantable neurotechnologies with innovative treatment strategies developed through rigorous preclinical and clinical studies. These efforts have led to major breakthroughs in the treatment of paraplegia, tetraplegia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Working closely with a dynamic network of high-tech start-ups and established medical technology companies, we are committed to translating therapeutic concepts into interventions that can be deployed in rehabilitation clinics worldwide.

Genomic Engineering for Spinal Cord Injury and Neurological Disorders

Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers a highly complex cascade of molecular and cellular responses that remains incompletely understood. This limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying SCI has slowed the development of targeted therapies that could reduce symptoms and promote neural repair and regeneration.

This PhD project seeks to address this challenge by combining genomic engineering, molecular biology, and computational analysis to uncover the mechanisms driving SCI and related neurological disorders, and to translate these discoveries into therapeutic strategies.The project offers a unique opportunity for an interdisciplinary PhD at the interface of wet-lab experimentation and computational biology. The candidate will contribute both to the development and application of genomic engineering approaches in relevant experimental systems, and to the analysis of high-dimensional datasets generated from these studies. Depending on the specific direction of the project, this may include technologies such as single-cell and multi-omic sequencing, perturbation-based screening, genome engineering tools, and spatially resolved molecular profiling.

Research scope

The PhD project will combine two major components:

1. Experimental / wet-lab component

Design and implementation of genomic engineering and molecular biology approaches to investigate mechanisms of injury, repair, and dysfunction in the spinal cord and central nervous system. This may involve cell and molecular biology, genetic perturbation strategies, single-cell sequencing library preparation, and validation experiments in relevant biological models.

2. Computational / analytical component
In addition to experimental work, the candidate will contribute to the analysis of genomic datasets generated in the project. Prior expertise in computational biology is not required, but the candidate should be comfortable working with R or Python and interested in learning to analyze single-cell sequencing datasets.

Candidate profile

We are seeking a highly motivated and intellectually curious candidate who is excited to work across disciplines and combine hands-on experimental biology with computational analysis. The ideal candidate is passionate about understanding the mechanistic complexity of the spinal cord and central nervous system, and about leveraging genomic technologies to enable the next generation of precision therapies for SCI and related neurological disorders.

Prerequisites:

  • Strong interest in both wet-lab biology and computational biology

  • Experience in R and/or Python

  • Background in statistics and data analysis

  • Experience in molecular biology, genomics, or cell biology

Preferred:

  • Experience in bioinformatics or single-cell genomics

  • Familiarity with genomic engineering approaches

  • Knowledge of neuroscience or neurobiology

  • Ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary environment

Location: Campus Biotech (Geneva)

Please submit the following documents:

  • A CV outlining your educational background and relevant experience

  • A critical analysis of a research paper from the lab (max 300 words). In this short essay, briefly summarize the main findings, discuss one or two limitations of the study, and propose potential next experimental steps. 

  • Applications should be sent to jordansquair@gmail.com, quentin.barraud@epfl.ch, and jan.soriano@epfl.ch.

Yue Yang Teo