Open positions

The Jain Lab at Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Zurich, is recruiting motivated Master’s students for 6–12 month thesis or internship projects.

Projects focus on human brain organoids to study neural development, migration, lineage dynamics, and disease-relevant perturbations. Students will work with human iPSCs, perform 3D organoid culture, and use advanced live imaging approaches (e.g. light-sheet and confocal microscopy). Depending on interest, projects may also include genetic reporters, pharmacological or mechanical perturbations, and quantitative image or single-cell data analysis.

Projects are well-defined but flexible and will be tailored to the student’s background (wet lab, imaging, or computational). Prior organoid experience is not required — training and close supervision will be provided. Wet lab and compytational students are encouraged to apply!

📩 Interested?
Please contact us with a CV and a short description of your interests and availability.

The Jain Lab at Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Zurich, is recruiting a highly motivated PhD student to study how mechanical and molecular cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) drive patterning of the developing human brain using stem cell–derived brain organoids.

The PhD project will investigate how regional identity, tissue architecture, and neuronal migration emerge from spatially distinct ECM niches in 3D organoid systems. The student will combine human iPSC culture, regional cell fate reporters and organoid differentiation with engineered or synthetic ECM environments, controlled mechanical perturbations, and advanced live imaging (e.g. light-sheet and confocal microscopy). Projects will integrate quantitative morphodynamics, image-based analysis of tissue patterning, and may include single-cell or spatial transcriptomics to link mechanical environments to gene expression and cell fate decisions.

The project is hypothesis-driven but flexible, allowing the student to shape specific directions at the interface of mechanobiology, neurodevelopment, and stem cell biology. The candidate will receive close mentorship, strong technical training, and exposure to an interdisciplinary research environment.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s degree in neuroscience, biology, bioengineering, physics, or a related field. Experience in mechanobiology, biomaterials, imaging, or quantitative analysis is advantageous but not required.

📩 To apply: Please send a CV, brief motivation statement, and contact details of referees.

We are an interdisciplinary research lab seeking outstanding postdoctoral candidates from diverse backgrounds, including cell and developmental biology, neuroscience, applied physics, and computational sciences.
Successful candidates will take a leading role in shaping and driving their own research projects, with the freedom to develop independent ideas that can open new scientific directions. We strongly support intellectual ownership, creativity, and cross-disciplinary thinking.
We are also enthusiastic about collaborating on fellowship applications and are happy to host motivated candidates for competitive postdoctoral funding schemes. If you are planning to apply for upcoming fellowships, we welcome early discussions to develop strong, joint proposals.
 
If you are interested, please get in touch with a brief description of your research interests and background.