Chrono
Join a cohort of 12 doctoral researchers in ChronoBridge, a European Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network. The programme connects biological clocks, physiology and metabolism through international collaboration.
Host and supervision
The position is supervised by Prof. Felix Naef at the Laboratory of Computational and Systems Biology, EPFL. The laboratory combines experimental, computational and theoretical approaches to understand biological systems, with research spanning circadian rhythms, gene regulation, the dynamics of gene activity and processes in individual cells.
You will receive regular supervision, advice from senior researchers, quarterly meetings with an independent advisor, an annual committee review and support from a non-academic mentor. A local co-supervisor will guide each research visit.
Research project
This WP1 project develops methods to estimate the timing, strength and synchrony of individual cellular clocks from molecular data. The aim is to distinguish weak clocks from strong clocks that are out of step with one another.
Your research will involve:
- Working with reference datasets in cell culture models, using single-cell RNA sequencing to measure clock-related gene activity.
- Developing a probabilistic machine learning model to estimate clock parameters while accounting for uncertainty.
- Testing the method’s accuracy and analysing how clock-modifying compounds change cellular rhythms.
- Contributing to single-cell data analysis and methodological learning across the network.
The project aims to deliver a reference dataset and validated analytical tools for studying biological timing in individual cells.
Suggested profile
- Completed a Master’s degree, or equivalent, in bioinformatics, computational biology, quantitative biology, statistics, computer science or a related discipline.
- Interest in single-cell biology, biological rhythms and quantitative methods. Previous laboratory or data-analysis experience is useful; specialist training will be provided.
- Scientific curiosity, critical thinking, careful research practice and enthusiasm for collaboration across Europe.
Skills you will develop
- Formulate hypotheses and design rigorous experiments or analyses.
- Interpret results critically and solve research problems.
- Write scientific papers and present findings clearly.
- Manage projects and collaborate across disciplines and countries.
- Apply research ethics and reproducible methods.
Planned research visits
Research visits to Charité and BioTalentum total approximately 2 months. They provide complementary methods, international collaboration and local supervision. See the ChronoBridge “Training & network” page for mobility information.
Allowance
This is a full-time position as a doctoral researcher.
Remuneration follows the recruiting institution’s applicable salary arrangements and MSCA funding requirements.
The grant supports eligible personal and family circumstances. Your employer will explain salary, allowances and deductions.
Eligibility
Candidates of any nationality may apply, provided they:
Do not hold a doctoral degree or have successfully defended a doctoral thesis at recruitment.
Meet the doctoral programme’s admission requirements.
Have not lived or mainly worked or studied in Switzerland for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before recruitment, subject to defined exceptions.
Have professional English, with evidence assessed by the recruiting institution.
See “Who can Apply?” on the ChronoBridge “How to Apply” page for the detailed criteria and exceptions.
Network training
You will benefit from at least 100 hours of scientific and transferable-skills training, three years of Nature Masterclasses access, network congresses, workshops, online clubs and an individual career-development plan. The programme offers connections with academic, industry and clinical partners. See “Training & network” for the full programme and practical arrangements.