Phd Researcher - Bone Organoids

The Singapore-ETH Centre, established in 2010 by ETH Zurich and Singapore’s National Research Foundation, serves as ETH Zurich’s only research centre outside Switzerland. Located in Singapore’s CREATE campus, the centre tackles global challenges in urban sustainability, resilience, and health through programmes such as Future Cities Lab Global and Future Health Technologies. It brings together principal investigators and researchers from diverse disciplines to translate knowledge into practical solutions. This PhD project is situated within the Future Health Technologies programme and builds on the dynamic bone organoid culture platform developed in the Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics at ETH Zurich.

The project addresses fragility fractures, a serious consequence of impaired skeletal health in older adults, which current clinical tools struggle to capture in terms of patient-specific biological responses to altered bone remodelling, mechanical loading, and inflammation. By creating advanced patient‑derived 3D bone organoids, the research aims to model osteoporosis‑related bone remodelling, immune‑bone interactions, donor‑specific osteoporotic phenotypes, and mineralisation dynamics, including the influence of age‑related comorbidities. These organoids will serve as a platform for predictive modelling of bone remodelling trajectories and fracture risk, supporting the advancement of human‑relevant in vitro models for precision musculoskeletal care.

The doctoral researcher will establish workflows to 3D print patient‑derived mesenchymal stromal cells, guide their osteogenic differentiation under dynamic mechanical stimulation, and co‑culture them with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Key tasks include integrating immune cells into mature bone organoids to model monocyte‑derived osteoclast activity and inflammation, investigating donor‑specific differences linked to age, sex, and comorbidities, and characterising osteoporosis‑related organoid phenotypes using molecular, biochemical, histological, imaging, and microscopy‑based techniques. The candidate will also perform mineralisation assays and analyse data to contribute to predictive modelling frameworks.

To achieve these goals, the position requires a broad skill set: experience in tissue engineering and mammalian cell culture, familiarity with 3D cell culture, organoids, bone or musculoskeletal research, bioreactor‑based culture systems, and mechanical stimulation of tissues. Advantageous expertise includes human primary cells, mesenchymal stromal cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, osteoclast differentiation, immune cell assays, inflammatory signalling, and molecular techniques such as immunostaining, microscopy, gene expression analysis, cytokine profiling, and osteoclast activity assays. Additionally, skills in computed tomography, image analysis, Python‑based data analysis, and quantitative data analysis are considered assets.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Ralph Müller (ETH Zurich) and will work within a highly interdisciplinary and international environment at the Singapore‑ETH Centre. The centre offers a diverse workplace with 32 nationalities, a positive and inclusive culture, 25 days of annual leave, birthday leave, dental benefits, comprehensive healthcare insurance, and a flexible hybrid work arrangement (up to two days per week from home). The role is accredited with the Tripartite Standards for fair employment and the NS mark certification, reflecting a commitment to employee well‑being and professional development.

Applications must be submitted through the online portal linked in the advertisement. Required documents include a cover letter with a specific statement of motivation, a CV with the names and contact information of two academic referees, and university transcripts as PDFs. The deadline for applications is 7 September 2026 at 21:59 UTC. The PhD degree will be awarded by ETH Zurich upon successful completion. Further information about the Singapore‑ETH Centre and the project