PhD Position in Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Metabolic Health

Introduction

The University of Lausanne (UNIL) is a leading public institution of higher education and research in Switzerland. It is composed of seven faculties for a total of approximately 17'000 students and employs around 5'000 researchers, teachers and technical staff. Life sciences and medicine is one of its three main axis of research, together with social and environmental sciences. The hosting laboratory is part of the Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS) within the Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM) at UNIL. It benefits from close proximity to the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), consistently ranked among the world's top 10 academic medical centers, fostering a rich and collaborative biomedical research environment.

Presentation

PhD position is available in the laboratory of Prof. Yibo Wu at the Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of Lausanne (UNIL). Our research focuses on unraveling the molecular mechanisms linking white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation to obesity, its associated metabolic complications, and its role in mediating responses to emerging therapies. We employ systems biology approaches, integrating advanced proteomics, bioinformatics, and multi-omics analysis to uncover fundamental mechanisms that govern human metabolic health.

Job information

Expected start date: or upon agreement

Contract duration: 1 year with possibility of renewal, maximum 5 years

Percentage of activity: 100%

Location: Lausanne, UNIL-FBM Bugnon

Your responsibilities

The PhD candidate will primarily focus on wet laboratory research and will:

• Perform cutting-edge in vivo and in vitro experiments to investigate genetic and environmental factors contributing to WAT inflammation and its role in mediating responses to emerging therapies
• Process and prepare high-quality biological samples from both mouse models and human clinical cohorts (e.g., adipose tissue, liver, serum, FACS-sorted cells, conditioned media or extracellular vesicles) for advanced multi-omics analyses
• Collaborate closely with computational biologists for initial data quality control and subsequent systems-level interpretation of experimental findings
• Contribute to data interpretation, figure generation, and manuscript writing for peer-reviewed publications
• Present research findings in lab meetings and at scientific conferences

Your qualifications

• A Master's degree in Life Science, preferably biochemistry, biomedicine, cellular biology, molecular biology, or a related field
• Strong motivation and interest in adipose tissue biology, metabolism, and molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases
• Hands-on experience in molecular biology or biochemistry. Experience with adipose tissue and clinical samples is preferable.
• Experience with animal models (e.g., mice) is an advantage; willingness to be trained in ethical animal handling and experimentation is essential
• Basic understanding of statistical analysis is desirable
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Enthusiasm for working in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment
• Proficient written and spoken English communication skills

What the position offers you

You will join a growing research group dedicated to understanding obesity and metabolic diseases through cutting-edge proteomics and systems-level biology. This PhD position places you at the forefront of innovative research, where you'll contribute to projects that combine advanced techniques to decode molecular mechanisms impacting human health.

Our group is committed to your academic and professional growth, offering a dynamic and supportive research environment. You'll have access to state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and other experimental tools, along with mentorship from experts across disciplines. We offer ample opportunities to present your work at prestigious conferences and publish in high-impact journals, fostering your development as an independent scientist.

Beyond the scientific advantages, you'll thrive in a stimulating and interdisciplinary research environment with access to world-class core facilities and attractive employment conditions in Switzerland. The position is located on the UNIL/CHUV medical campus in Lausanne, close to EPFL, offering an intellectually stimulating atmosphere just minutes from Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps.

Contact for further information

Prof. Yibo Wu

E-mail :

Your application

Deadline :

Please send your full application in pdf. The complete application should contain:

• Cover letter outlining your motivation for the PhD position, relevant research experience and future career goals
• Curriculum vitae
• Academic diploma
• List of publications (if any)
• Contact information for three references

Only applications submitted through the official recruitment portal will be considered

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:

• equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
• ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
• offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
• supporting early career researchers.

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