Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Mechanobiology

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

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Presentation

The Majda Lab is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Mechanobiology to join the research group at the Department of Plant Molecular Biology at the University of Lausanne. The Majda Lab investigates how mechanical forces and physical constraints shape plant growth across scales, from cell walls to individual cells, tissues, and organs. The project will focus on studying the relationship between endoreduplication and mechanical forces, especially addressing how endoploidy affect cell wall properties, tissue mechanics, and growth coordination in plants, and how endoploidy and mechanics influence each other in a feedback loop.

Job information

Expected start date in position : 01.11.2026

Contract length : 1 year

Activity rate : 100%

Workplace : Lausanne-Dorigny

Your responsibilities

The successful candidate will join researchers working at the interface of plant biology, biomechanics, and quantitative biology. The postdoctoral researcher will take a leading role in an SNSF Starting Grant project investigating how endoreduplication impacts multiscale growth coordination in plants.

More specifically, the candidate will study how changes in cell-cycle state and endoploidy influence cell wall organization, mechanical properties, cell and tissue mechanics, and organ growth. The project will use Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system to examine how cells transition from division to expansion, and how this transition affects growth coordination across tissues.

The work will combine biomechanical measurements, quantitative image analysis, and computational modeling. A major aim will be to understand how endoploidy-driven changes in cell wall stiffness, extensibility, and tissue stress shape growth behavior, and how mechanical feedback contributes to growth regulation across tissues.

The candidate is expected to work independently, collaborate closely with other group members and external collaborators, and contribute to the mentoring of MSc and PhD students. This position is mostly research-oriented. It is also associated with teaching duties for undergraduate and graduate biology students

Your qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated and independent researcher with a strong interest in mechanobiology, quantitative biology, biophysics, or computational biology. Applicants should hold a PhD degree in mechanobiology, biophysics, bioengineering, computational biology, plant biology, or a related discipline.

Experience with plant systems is not required, and candidates with a strong biophysical, computational, or quantitative background are encouraged to apply. Experience with live imaging, image analysis, mechanical measurements, or cell wall biology would be advantageous. The candidate should be highly organized, able to work independently and within a team.

What the position offers you

The Majda Lab is hosted at the Department of Plant Molecular Biology at the University of Lausanne, a vibrant and interdisciplinary research environment with access to advanced facilities for imaging, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, transcriptomics, and quantitative biology. The lab has access to biomechanical tools including extensometry, micro-indentation, atomic force microscopy, and software for image processing and modeling.

Embedded in the broader Lausanne research environment, including UNIL and EPFL, the position offers a supportive and stimulating working environment in a multicultural, diverse, and dynamic academic setting. The position includes opportunities for professional training, participation in university activities, and access to the benefits available to UNIL employees.

We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment. Opportunities for professional training, a lot of activities and other benefits to discover.

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Relevant work:

Trozzi N, Lane B, Perruchoud A, et al. Growth history leaves a geometric trace in puzzle cells. EMBO Rep. 2026;27:2559-2580.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-026-00755-y 

Trozzi N, Wodniok W, Kelly-Bellow R, et al. Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking. BMC Biol. 2025;23:112.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02216-9 

Contact for further information

Prof. Mateusz Majda : E-Mail schreiben

Your application

Deadline : 05.08.2026

Please, send your full application in Word or PDF.
Only applications through this website will be taken into account.

We thank you for your understanding.

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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