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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.

PhD position Bioelectrocatalysis

Mission

We are offering a position as a full-time (100%) PhD Student in the Group of Energy Materials at EPFL, Sion. Our highly interdisciplinary Lab is part of the EPFL Mechanical Engineering Institute and specialised since 30 years in fuel cells and electrolysers, both high temperature (>600°C, solid oxide ceramics) and low temperature (<100 °C, proton and anionic exchange polymer membrane-based). Our fully equipped diagnostics lab mounts and investigates fuel cells / electrolysers, from components and single cells up to stacks and systems, testing durability/performance and identifying degradation phenomena. Experimental work is assisted by modeling and simulation on different levels. Since we work with multiple different fuels, we are also performing research into topics such as chemical catalysis and biocatalysis. For the present position, we are looking for a student with a background in (bio)chemical, environmental or biological engineering, familiar with bacteria strains and DNA analysis, among others. The project deals with the design, testing and evaluation of a bioelectrochemical device that converts liquid organic effluents (wastewaters, cheese whey, breweries,...) into valuable chemicals (methane, methanol, acetic acid) by growing bacteria (biofilms) onto porous electrode foams that feed on the organics (anode) and produce the useful chemicals (cathode). A first 5 x 2 x 100 cm2 electrodes design has been built in our lab. The PhD thesis will investigate the concept, work with defined bacteria strains and a defined waste source, to understand the workings of the bioelectrochemical reactor, with an emphasis on how to activate it (inoculation phase) and determine the influence of voltage, temperature, pH, and electrode materials, among others.

 

Main duties and responsibilities

As a PhD student, you will be expected to:

  • Have full responsibility for your own dissertation
  • Research in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners
  • Experiment design and execution
  • Analyze and interpret experimental results
  • Write scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals
  • Present at international conferences
  • Participate in education and supervise student projects

More specifically, within this project, you will:

  • test and upgrade an existing bioelectrocatalytic reactor converting cheese whey into acetic acid
  • investigate electrode mechanisms and determine the limiting steps
  • perform DNA analysis to identify the bacterial strains at the cathode and anode environments
  • be responsible of a dedicated project that fully funds the PhD thesis

Profile

  • A MSc degree in biology, biochemistry or environmental engineering
  • Prior familiarity with bacterial strains, cultures, inoculation, DNA analysis
  • Good communication skills and willingness to work as part of a team
  • Enthusiasm, scientific curiosity, eager to learn, good organizational skills, rigor in experimental work
  • High level of motivation for academic research work
  • Fluency in English is essential [French or German or Italian would be an asset]

We offer

  • Employment at an institution ranked among the global leaders in engineering and technology
  • Support for professional development through training and continuous learning opportunities.
  • Flexible work environment promoting work-life balance
  • Language courses relevant to your role
  • International multilingual environment
  • Discounts on public transport

Informations

The EPFL selection process involves multiple stages, and short-listed candidates will be requested to apply to a specific EPFL Doctoral Program to qualify for a PhD at EPFL, in this case EDBB (Biotech), EDCH (Chemistry) or EDEY (Energy).
Please check this page for additional information on admission.

Please note that this is a separate application process necessary to be eligible to complete your PhD at EPFL.

Your application should contain:

  • A motivation Letter
  • Your detailed CV
  • Contact information
  • The names and contact information of 3 references willing to write a recommendation letter

 

Application deadline: January 31st 2026

Contract Start Date: April 1st 2026 or as per mutual agreement

Activity Rate : 100

Contract Type: 1-year fixed-term contract (CDD), renewable for 4 years.

Reference: 2001

 

For more information, please contact: jan.vanherle@epfl.ch, chantal.donaghey@epfl.ch, cedric.frantz@epfl.ch










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