The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology (IPMB) of the University of Zurich (UZH) conducts fundamental and applied research and teaching on a wide range of organisms using genetic, molecular, biochemical, cellular, developmental, evolutionary, and ecological approaches to understand how plants and microbes function and interact with each other as well as with their environment. Apart from science and teaching, IPMB strives towards increasing the sustainability of its operations by adopting novel technologies to reduce plastic waste.

What we offer:

IPMB offers a thriving and intellectually stimulating work environment, thanks to its cosmopolitic and vivid staff, consisting of almost 200 researchers from about 60 nations. We live a culture of open scientific exchange, approachability, and social interaction that provides an ideal framework for scientific and personal development. Located in the midst of the beautiful Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich, IPMB offers a wonderful place to work.

UZH makes itself available to its researchers, staff and students as a real-world laboratory to develop and test innovative measures for sustainable operation in transdisciplinary teams. The project thus takes place in the context with other projects applying the real-world laboratory approach. With this project you can contribute to enhancing sustainability at UZH. You also have the possibility to share experiences with other UZH members who (want to) work with the real-world laboratory approach to contribute to a sustainable development. In addition, you have the possibility to contribute to and participate in a growing network on green laboratories at UZH and beyond.

Your employment will be under public law ('öffentlich-rechtliche Anstellung').
The central goal of this one-year limited full-time position is to implement a novel technology that allows the washing and reusing of pipette tips that today are discarded after a single use. Single-use plastic disposables cause dozens to hundreds of kilograms of waste per wet-lab scientist and year, resulting in tremendous costs and posing a heavy burden on our environment.

We aim to evaluate a device permitting automated washing of pipette tips for cycles of reuse. This involves legal clearance, assessment of the useability for molecular biology experimentation, development of workflow recommendations, and sustainability assessments. Close collaboration is required with scientists and TAs of IPMB, officials from the AWEL of the canton of Zurich, the company supplying the device, analytics service providers, experts on energy assessments of UZH, and other Swiss Universities aiming for the same. The results of this study shall be documented for UZH-internal and external use as publication in a scientific or lab management journal.

Further information can be found under "UZH as a real-world laboratory". We believe that we cannot afford throwing away tons of potentially reusable laboratory plastics in 20 years from now, so projects like tip washing rethink lab work and thus represent a showcase of how a greener laboratory may function in the future.

PhD in life science, documented experience in wet-lab molecular biology, especially challenging PCR & troubleshooting
Experience in quality control, from testing to validation, equipment management and validation
Good communication and negotiation skills with various peer groups, preferably also in German
Independent, highly structured and proactive work style with solid skills in planning tasks, meeting deadlines and work documentation
Interest in “green" technology platforms aimed at improving the sustainability of lab work
Experience environmental safety issues and legal clearance is an asset

Work-Life Balance

Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH

More
Learning and Development

Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

More
Food

Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

More
Healthcare

Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
Free seasonal flu vaccinations
Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

More
Discounts

Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
Special conditions on hotel reservations

More
Conditions of Employment

Policies of the UZH
Most UZH staff are employed according to public law

More
International Services

Support for people from outside Switzerland

More
Campuses

Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

Universität Zürich

New Jobs

Postdoc or experienced TA in sustainability technology implementation