PostDoctoral Position : Image-Based Drug Screening Against Bacterial Pathogens

Mission

A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Prof. Alex Persat (EPFL School of Life Sciences, https://www.p-lab.science/) to establish a new image-based drug screening platform targeting gram-negative pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The project will combine single-cell/single-bacterium imaging approaches with the lab's tissue-engineered infection models to identify and characterize compounds active against these priority pathogens.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Design and build a microscopy-based phenotypic screening pipeline (live imaging, high-content, single-cell resolution) to assay compound activity
• Develop imaging assays capable of distinguishing mechanism of action (e.g. growth inhibition, biofilm/attachment disruption, membrane integrity)
• Develop or adapt image analysis and quantification pipelines with AI support to handle screen-scale data
• Follow up on screening hits to identify their molecular target or mechanism of action (e.g. via genetic, chemical-biology, or biophysical approaches), with support from other lab members' expertise in microbiology and drug discovery
• Collaborate with the lab's discovery and design efforts (natural products, AI-enabled molecular design) to feed prioritized targets and hits back into upstream design
• Apply the pipeline to screens in both standard culture and, in collaboration with other lab members, the group's organoid/tissue-engineered infection models (airway, gut) to prioritize physiologically relevant hits
• Co-supervise PhD students and contribute to method development, data management, and grant reporting

Profile

• PhD in microbiology, biophysics, bioengineering, or a related field (completed or near completion) with at least a first author publication.
• Hands-on experience with quantitative microscopy (live-cell imaging, high-content screening, or single-cell/single-bacterium imaging)
• Comfort with image analysis pipelines and scripting (Python), experience integrating ML-based image analysis is a plus but not required
• Interest in working across the interface of imaging, microbiology, and drug discovery

We offer

• The opportunity to build a new screening platform from the ground up, with significant ownership over pipeline design
• Access to the lab's existing imaging/biophysics infrastructure and tissue-engineered infection model systems
• Integration within the NCCR AntiResist consortium, with access to a broad network of AMR-focused groups across Switzerland
• Competitive salary (see EPFL postdoc salary scale)
• Support for independent fellowship applications (EMBO, HFSP, MSCA) where relevant

Informations

Applicants should submit

• A cover letter (PDF, up to 2 pages) describing research interests, achievements and fit
• A CV with publication list
• Contact details for 3 referees

Additional information

• Contract start date: negotiable
• For informal inquiries, contact: [email protected]
• Applications accepted only through the EPFL careers portal

Activity Rate : 100.00

Contract Type: CDD

Duration: 1 year, renewable

Reference: 2441