Open positions

Interested in nanoscience research? Please remember to check this page where we regularly post job offers for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scientists at the Adolphe Merkle Institute. Chemistry, materials science, analytics, physics, and biophysics are all at the core of our scientific projects. We offer a uniquely stimulating interdisciplinary research environment, state-of-the-art laboratories, excellent working conditions, competitive salaries, and outstanding career prospects. Our alumni regularly take up attractive positions in academia, public research organizations, and industry around the world.

• Two PhD positions - interactions of micro- and nanoplastic particles with the human lung and intestine barriers

  The Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland invites applications for two PhD positions in the BioNanomaterials group which is co-chaired by Prof. B. Rothen-Rutishauser and Prof. A. Fink.

  The goal of a new SNSF-funded project investigating the interactions of micro- and nanoplastic particles with the human lung and intestine barriers is to study how relevant plastic materials interact with human barriers by mimicking uptake routes via the lung and intestine. Single-cell analysis will be followed by more complex 3D lung and intestine tissue models, including a comparison of static with dynamic systems.

  Applicants must have an MSc or equivalent degree in Cell Biology. Excellent skills in the domain of cell culture techniques, cell analysis, and experience with micro- and nanoplastic particle exposures are expected. Enthusiasm for top-quality research and good oral and written English communication skills are a must.

  We offer a uniquely stimulating interdisciplinary research environment at the interface of cell biology and bionanomaterials, state-of-the-art laboratories, excellent working conditions, a competitive salary in accordance with the Swiss National Science Foundation guidelines, and outstanding career prospects.

  Please send your complete documentation (including letter of motivation, CV, copies of pertinent certificates, and contact details of two references) to Prof. Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Ch. de Verdiers 4, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland, via Email to barbara.rothen@unifr.ch, by the end of June 2025.  Please state “PhD student BioNanomaterials” in your motivation letter and in the subject header!

• Two PhD Positions - Soft Matter Physics Group
  The Adolphe Merkle Institute's Soft Matter Physics Group (Prof. Ullrich Steiner) invites applications for two PhD positions in the "Strong Localisation of Light through the Controlled Assembly of Amorphous Patchy Colloid Networks” project.

  
  

  In opaque materials, light is multiply scattered before emerging.  A long-standing interesting fundamental question arises: Is it possible to design a strongly scattering material from which light never emerges? While theoretically predicted and despite several experimental efforts, this effect has not yet been demonstrated.  Our approach follows the theoretical studies, which require an interplay of order and disorder in the arrangement of the scatterers within the material.  

  
  

  To this end, we will develop a system of colloidal building blocks that can be assembled into networks, allowing us to adjust the order-disorder interplay of the resulting network. These 3D networks are then replicated into high-refractive index materials (silicon or titania) and optically characterised to achieve strong light scattering. One of the PhD projects concerns the creation of the building blocks, i.e., the synthesis of the colloids and their assembly, while the second will work on replicating the networks as mentioned above.  Both students will also use molecular dynamics and optical simulations to predict promising network morphologies, guiding their experiments.

  
  

  Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, or Physics and wish to pursue interdisciplinary research in a fast-moving international team. The ability to advance a complex project independently and as part of a team, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in English are key requirements for this position. Experience in polymer or colloid science will be of advantage, and some knowledge of optics is desirable. 

  
  

  The Adolphe Merkle Institute offers attractive employment conditions and outstanding infrastructure in a new research facility.

  The position will be filled as soon as possible. Please send your CV, motivation letter, and contact information of at least two references as one PDF file via E‐mail to ami.applications@unifr.ch with the subject title “PhD Light Localisation”.