Postdoctoral Researcher / Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Researcher - Bone Organoids

100%, Singapore, fixed-term

The Singapore-ETH Centre, established in 2010 by ETH Zurich – The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Singapore's National Research Foundation (NRF) as part of the NRF’s CREATE campus, is ETH Zurich's only research centre outside of Switzerland. The centre has significantly enhanced the research capacity of ETH Zurich, focusing on sustainable solutions to global challenges in Singapore and the surrounding regions.

Located in a rapidly urbanizing region, the Singapore-ETH Centre aims to provide practical solutions to the most pressing challenges in urban sustainability, resilience, and health through its programs: Future Cities Lab Global (FCL Global) and Future Health Technologies (FHT).

The centre serves as an intellectual hub, fostering collaboration among principal investigators and researchers from diverse disciplines. Our researchers actively work with universities, research institutes, industry, and government agencies to turn knowledge into practical solutions for real-world challenges.

Project Background

Advanced Patient-derived 3D Bone Organoids for Personalised Osteoporosis Drug Screening

Fragility fractures significantly impact the health and mobility of older adults, often leading to independence loss and long-term disability. Current standards of care are valuable but do not fully address patient-specific biological variations in skeletal health. Osteoporosis and related age-associated bone disorders demonstrate considerable heterogeneity among individuals, affecting bone formation, osteoclast activity, and responses to therapy. This highlights the urgent need for human-relevant models to support personalised osteoporosis care.

This project aims to enhance patient-derived 3D bone organoid models developed in the Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics at ETH Zurich for in vitro osteoporosis research and drug screening. The postdoctoral researcher will lead efforts to optimize workflows for 3D printing patient-derived mesenchymal stromal cells, guiding osteogenic differentiation under dynamic mechanical stimulation, coculturing with peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and evaluating donor-specific responses to pharmacological interventions. These organoid models will allow for in-depth investigations into osteoporosis-related remodelling, immune-bone interactions, and personalized drug-response profiles.

Biological outcomes from these models will contribute to predictive frameworks for bone remodelling, treatment response, and fracture risk, enhancing precision in musculoskeletal care.

Job Description

The Postdoctoral researcher will engage closely with engineers, clinicians, biologists, and computational researchers to create robust biological datasets that facilitate personalized modelling of bone remodelling and fracture prevention.

Key responsibilities include:

• Development and standardization of patient-derived 3D bone organoid models for osteoporosis research and personalised drug screening.
• Establishing workflows to integrate peripheral blood mononuclear cells in bone organoids to study immune-bone interactions.
• Designing organoid-based drug-response assays to evaluate donor-specific responses to osteoporosis therapies.
• Characterizing osteoporosis-related organoid phenotypes and treatment responses using various techniques.
• Generating and documenting standardized biological datasets for integration with computational modelling.
• Coordinating wet lab workflows, including experimental planning and data management.
• Mentoring PhD, MSc, and BSc students, as applicable.

Profile

Applicants should possess a PhD in biomedical engineering or a related field. Strong experience in tissue engineering, mammalian cell culture, and advanced in vitro model development is required. Experience in 3D cell culture, organoids, or musculoskeletal research is highly advantageous.

Additional desirable skills include:

• Experience with pharmacological response assays and disease modelling.
• Familiarity with molecular, histological, imaging, and biochemical techniques.
• Skills in computed tomography and quantitative data analysis.

High motivation and a keen interest in skeletal research, precision medicine, and translational models are essential. Candidates should be capable of working independently, managing complex workflows, engaging constructively with peers, and possess excellent communication skills in English.

Workplace

Our workplace is diverse, with employees from 32 different nationalities, fostering opportunities for mutual learning in a positive and inclusive environment.

We Offer

• Accredited with 5 Tripartite Standards by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) Singapore.
• 25 days of annual leave for fixed-term contracts.
• 1 day of Birthday Leave.
• Comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage.
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (up to 2 days per week from home).
• Networking opportunities across various disciplines.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

ETH Zurich is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that respects the rights and dignity of all staff and students. Sustainability is a core value, and we continuously strive toward a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We!

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For additional information about The Singapore-ETH Centre, please visit our website. For specific questions regarding the position, feel free to contact Dr. Chris Steffi at chris.steffi@hest.ethz.ch.