PhD student – Antibiotic biosensor protein engineering

Starting immediately or as per agreement.

About the role

The research group of Prof. Knut Drescher at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel seeks to appoint a PhD student in molecular microbiology, biochemistry, and protein design, with a focus on the development of biosensors for antibiotics. This position is part of the Swiss National Competence Center in Research (NCCR) “AntiResist,” which develops new approaches to overcome the global antibiotic resistance crisis.

The project

To understand why antibiotics sometimes fail to treat bacterial infections, it is critical to measure the local concentration of antibiotics at the site of infection. The group recently developed the first allosteric biosensors for antibiotics, enabling real-time measurements of antibiotic concentrations with high spatial and temporal resolution at infection sites (bioRxiv manuscript 2026). However, the previous method only yielded biosensors for two classes of antibiotics. This project aims to extend this breakthrough by developing biosensors for all major classes of antibiotics using protein design and protein engineering.

This project combines computational and experimental approaches to design biosensor candidates and transform them into fully functional biosensors in bacterial cells. Additionally, the newly developed biosensors will be applied to measure antibiotic concentration dynamics inside bacterial cells in infection biology assays, ranging from biofilm treatment to stem-cell-derived organoids and bioengineered tissue infection systems.

For an overview of the lab’s recent projects, visit https://drescherlab.org/publications.html.

Requirements

• A Master's degree with a research thesis in molecular microbiology, protein biochemistry, protein design, or a related discipline.

Benefits

• Fully funded PhD position in a highly interactive, multidisciplinary, and international research group.
• Access to expertise in molecular microbiology, biophysics, bioinformatics, and large dataset analysis.
• Membership in the Swiss-wide NCCR AntiResist consortium, offering opportunities for scientific exchange.
• Excellent support from core facilities with expert staff and a structured PhD program at the Biozentrum.
• Commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.
• Location in Basel, an international city with a high standard of living, rich cultural atmosphere, and proximity to Switzerland, Germany, and France. Basel is home to numerous biomedical research institutions, providing outstanding opportunities for training, networking, and career development.

Application deadline: 20 August 2026. For informal enquiries, contact: knut.drescher@unibas.ch.