We study the hidden physics of infection, and we are building the team that will do it. We welcome students and researchers from physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and medicine. You do not need to already know our field. Curiosity and the willingness to learn matter more than a perfect match on paper.
If you want a sense of how we work before you read further, our values page says it best: curiosity, teamwork, shared responsibility, and science that reaches the people it is meant to help.
What we are looking for
Across every level, the same things matter most: genuine curiosity, drive, and wanting to work on problems that could matter for hundreds of millions of people. Specific skills are a plus, never a prerequisite.
Master’s and Bachelor’s students, interns. We have live projects ready to start now (see below). Helpful but not required: microfluidics, microscopy, image analysis, cell culture, or organ-on-chip experience, or a strong quantitative background you want to point at biology.
PhD students. We expect to grow the PhD team over the coming years. If you are interested in a future position, reach out and tell us what draws you here.
Postdocs. We are always glad to hear from strong candidates who want to build something new at the interface of physics and infection biology. If our science excites you, get in touch and we will explore fellowships and projects that fit your profile.
Open projects
Two master’s projects are open right now. Both can be shaped around your background and timeline.
Filming a snail’s immune system fight a parasite. Schistosomiasis affects over 200 million people, and every infection runs through a freshwater snail first. In some snails the immune system destroys the parasite before it can develop; in others it does not, and no one has ever watched this fight happen live. You would extract snail immune cells, build a micro-scale arena, place a single parasite at the center, and film the battle in real time. A collaboration with Dr. Ryo Morimoto’s group (MIMS, Umeå University). Full description on the KTH degree portal.
Building a skin-on-chip to watch a parasite invade. After a schistosome larva enters the skin, it spends up to 72 hours migrating before slipping into a blood vessel. This is its most vulnerable moment, the best window to stop infection, and no one has filmed it live since the 1980s. You would build a microfluidic skin-on-chip reproducing the layers of human skin down to a blood vessel, designed so we can watch a parasite cross it in real time. Full description on the KTH degree portal.
How to apply
Please use the application form below rather than emailing directly. It helps us give every application the attention it deserves. We read applications on a rolling basis and reply to everyone. If you are unsure whether you fit, apply anyway and tell us what excites you. We would rather hear from you.
Application form: https://forms.gle/U2FvFDCw8zWfhMRr7
Contact: melanieh[at]kth.se
Hannebelle lab 