PhD Position Nanozyme- Coating Antimicrobial Implants

Organization: Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology

Laboratory: Nanomaterials in Health Lab

Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland

Position: PhD Position on Nanozyme-Based Coating for Antimicrobial Implants

Research Network: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network – Implant-to-Market (i2M)

Supervisor: Dr. Giacomo Reina

Joint Affiliation: ETH Zürich, D-HEST, under the supervision of Prof. Peter Wick

Empa is offering a PhD position in the Nanomaterials in Health Lab focused on the development of nanozyme-based coatings for antimicrobial medical implants.

The project is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network Implant-to-Market (i2M), which provides an international and interdisciplinary research and training environment connecting materials science, biology, medical devices and regulatory science.

The research will focus on developing stimuli-responsive nanozyme coatings for personalised medical implants. Nanozymes are nanomaterials capable of mimicking the catalytic activity of natural enzymes and can be engineered to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) locally and in a controlled manner.

The project aims to investigate nanozyme materials, implant surface coatings and their interactions with biological systems, with particular emphasis on antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility and implant‑related biological responses.

• Design and synthesise nanozymes and optimise their physicochemical and catalytic properties.
• Develop reproducible approaches for integrating nanozymes onto implant surfaces.
• Investigate the compatibility of nanozyme coatings with different implant architectures and surface modifications.
• Evaluate the antimicrobial performance of nanozyme‑coated surfaces.
• Investigate the ability of coated surfaces to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation.
• Study nano–bio interactions associated with nanozyme‑coated implants.
• Evaluate cellular responses, including cytocompatibility and macrophage activation.
• Investigate cytokine production and biological parameters relevant to osseointegration.
• Study the stability, ageing and biodegradation of low‑dimensional nanozyme coatings in biologically relevant fluids.
• Analyse experimental results and contribute to scientific publications and presentations.

• A completed Master's degree in Biomaterials, Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience in nanomaterial synthesis and characterisation.
• Familiarity with cell culture and in vitro biological assays.
• Strong motivation to work on an interdisciplinary research challenge.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

• Catalysis and catalytic nanomaterials.
• Programming and scientific data analysis.
• Large‑scale data analysis.
• Nano–bio interactions.
  
  Biomedical materials and implant technologies.

The Nanomaterials in Health Lab at Empa is an interdisciplinary research environment investigating particle biofunctionalisation, cellular uptake, accumulation, transport across biological barriers and biological responses to nanomaterials.

The lab's research contributes to the development of personalised strategies for particle design and applications including drug delivery, imaging and diagnosis.

The successful candidate will work at the interface of nanomaterials, biology and medical‑device research within the i2M Doctoral Network.

• Degree: PhD.
• Duration: 3 years.
• Location: Empa, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
• Start date: Upon mutual agreement.
• Funding: The supplied vacancy does not specify a salary or detailed funding package.
• Supervision: Dr. Giacomo Reina.
• Joint affiliation: ETH Zürich, D-HEST, Prof. Peter Wick.

Not specified. The vacancy was published on 3 September 2026
, but no closing date is stated in the supplied listing.

Official vacancy and application information: