EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.
Our laboratory develops and applies advanced molecular and optical technologies to study mechanisms of cell surface signaling, cancer neuroscience, and protein engineering, integrating molecular biology, cell biology, and systems neuroscience approaches. To support our expanding in vivo and ex vivo neuroscience program, we are seeking a motivated and experienced technician to assist with mouse work, surgical procedures, and primary neuron culture.
The Kim Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) (https://www.epfl.ch/labs/upkim/) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to investigate how neuronal activity and the physical tumor microenvironment cooperate to drive brain cancer progression.
The project
Brain tumors do not grow in isolation. Glioma cells form functional connections with neural circuits, respond to activity-dependent signals from neurons, and actively remodel the tumor microenvironment surrounding them. Our recent work identified a signaling pathway in which neuron-derived neuroligin-3 engages CSPG4, increases membrane tension, and activates the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1, thereby promoting glioma proliferation. The successful candidate will build on this work to define the mechanochemical dialogue between the nervous system and cancer. The project will investigate how tissue stiffness, extracellular matrix composition, mechanosensitive signaling proteins regulate neuron–glioma interaction and tumor proliferation. The broader goal is to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities that arise from the interaction of tumor cells with their neuronal and physical microenvironment.
We welcome applicants with a PhD in neuroscience, cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, bioengineering, or a related field, together with excellent written and spoken English skills. We are seeking a highly motivated, intellectually curious, and collaborative candidate with strong expertise in whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Experience with stereotactic surgery, intracranial tumor models, acute brain-slice recordings, calcium imaging, and cancer research would also be particularly valuable. Applicants should also demonstrate a strong research track record, including at least one first-author publication in a well-regarded peer-reviewed journal.
We offer a fully funded postdoctoral position for at least three years within a highly interdisciplinary project supported by substantial preliminary data. The successful candidate will have opportunities to develop an independent research direction, access state-of-the-art EPFL facilities and international collaborations, and receive close mentorship in experimental design, manuscript preparation, fellowship applications, and career development, all within a vibrant scientific environment in Lausanne on Lake Geneva.
Contract Start Date : 01.10.2026 or flexible
Activity Rate : 100%
Contract Type: CDD
Duration: 1 year renewable
Reference: 2354
Only application submitted via the online platform will be considered.
For additional information please contact Dr. Yoon Kim ([email protected])
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The preferred starting date is flexible.
Job details are sourced from the employer's original posting.
Open job postingAbout the company
EPFL is a Swiss university known for its research and education in science and technology.