Switzerland : PhD Position:Single cell microfluidic imaging for spatial mapping and quantification of gene expression in an in vivo model of bone adaptation

Mechanical loading is perhaps the most important physiologic factor regulating bone mass and shape. Age related bone loss and consequent osteoporosis have been attributed, at least in part, to the decrease in mechanical usage of the skeleton. Conversely it has been demonstrated that mechanical overloading results in enhanced bone formation, thus a detailed understanding of the biochemical processes governing load regulated bone formation could lead to the identification of molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as osteoporosis. Osteocytes, embedded deeply within the mineralized bone matrix have been shown to be the key mediators of load induced bone remodeling, however, owing to their inaccessible location the molecular mechanisms by which mechanical forces are translated into anabolic signals remain poorly understood. In vivo studies have attempted to identify load regulated genes expressed by osteocytes, nevertheless, their interpretation is limited by the fact that they report the average effect of tens of thousands of cells. Furthermore, depending on their location within the diverse micro-architectures of bone these cells are exposed to varying magnitudes of mechanical strain. Therefore, the goal of the proposed PhD position is to develop a novel experimental approach to map the location of individual osteocytes within bone, quantify their micro-mechanical environment and analyze their individual patterns of gene expression exploiting microfluidic technology. With this in mind the proposed PhD position is divided into three specific aims:

This PhD is funded by SystemsX, a Swiss initiative in systems biology aimed at merging the traditional disciplines of chemistry, physics and engineering with biology. The Institute of Biomechanics and the Bioanalytics group at ETH Zurich are therefore seeking to appoint a highly motivated PhD candidate to work between the two departments to pursue research in the areas outlined above. The applicant should have a master degree in Biomedical Engineering / Biotechnology / Micro Engineering / Systems Engineering / Physics or a related field. Knowledge in molecular and/or cell biology is considered to be an advantage. Furthermore, good skills in both spoken and written English are mandatory to work in an international and dynamic team. Salaries are highly competitive and are in line with the guidelines of ETH Zurich.

Further Information

Application Deadline : 31 October 2010

Download this Call as PDF

Contact Adress:

Contact Email:

Posted on 2010-10-05 00:25:42

Click here to report if you think this notice is not valid or violating copyrights. Not an Official Version. Terms Apply.

The announced deadline for above scholarship is expired and new applications may no longer be accepted. The notice is available for reference purpose only.

Please give reference of Scholarships-Links.com when applying for above scholarship.

Go to Home Page, Subscribe in a Reader

Related Scholarships