Some PhD positions are just academic. This one is different.
The University of Bern Fully Funded PhD Position 2026 in Switzerland is for a motivated student who wants to work on drug discovery for Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi.
This is not a broad scholarship where you submit one general form and hope for the best. It is a focused, supervisor linked PhD position in the Gertsch Lab at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern.
The project is backed by the Swiss National Science Foundation under a funded research project titled “Targeting Trypanosoma cruzi host cell interactions by small molecules to treat Chagas disease.” The SNSF project runs from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2030 and has approved funding of CHF 1,410,500.
If your background is in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, proteomics, parasitology or drug discovery, this is an opportunity you should look at carefully.
University of Bern PhD Position Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Host University | University of Bern |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Institute | Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine |
| Research Group | Gertsch Lab |
| Supervisor | Prof. Dr. Jürg Gertsch |
| Study Level | PhD |
| Research Area | Drug discovery for Chagas disease |
| Main Disease Focus | Chagas disease |
| Funding | SNSF funded project |
| Duration | 4 year PhD position |
| PhD Environment | GCB Bern structured PhD programme |
| Application Status | Available now, filled as soon as possible |
| Application Email | juerg.gertsch@unibe.ch |
What This PhD Is About
This PhD focuses on finding new ways to treat Chagas disease.
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. The SNSF project description confirms that the disease remains a major global health challenge with limited treatment options. The project aims to explore new therapeutic approaches by studying how T. cruzi uses host cells for growth, especially macrophages and cardiomyocytes.
In simple English, this PhD is about understanding how the parasite survives inside the body, then using that knowledge to identify better drug targets and bioactive compounds.
The project will use approaches from
- Biochemistry
- Molecular biology
- Pharmacology
- Chemical biology
- Chemoproteomics
- Natural products
- Molecular pharmacology
- LC MS/MS analytics
- Drug discovery
- Translational pharmacokinetics
This is a serious research position. It is not for someone who only wants “a PhD in Switzerland.” It is for someone who can work at the interface of biology, chemistry and pharmacology.
If you prefer chemistry with sustainability, also check the Dublin City University Fully Funded PhD Opportunity 2026 in Ireland
Why This Research Matters
The painful truth is that some diseases do not get enough attention because they mostly affect poorer regions.
Chagas disease is one of those diseases.
It can damage the heart, affect long term health, and still has limited treatment options. That is why research into new drug targets and new compounds matters.
The SNSF project focuses on Chagas disease, chemical biology, drug discovery, endocannabinoid system, host pathogen interactions, molecular pharmacology, natural product synthesis and Trypanosoma cruzi.
That means this PhD sits inside a very meaningful space. You are not only studying molecules. You are working on a disease where better treatment options are still needed.
For applicants who care about research with real world impact, this is the kind of project to take seriously. If your interest is more on agriculture, smart farming, and robotics, the University of Georgia Fully Funded PhD Assistantship 2027 in USA is another strong research opportunity to check.
About the Gertsch Lab
The Gertsch Lab at the University of Bern studies the molecular mechanisms of action of small molecules and uses them as tools for biochemical research and drug discovery. The group works in molecular pharmacology, endocannabinoid biology, inflammation, neuromodulation, chemical biology, LC MS/MS, GC MS, natural products and translational research.
This matches the PhD project strongly.
If you apply, your application should show that you understand this lab direction. Do not write like you are applying to a general biology programme. Your letter should speak directly to small molecules, drug discovery, molecular pharmacology, parasite biology or chemical biology.
Prof. Dr. Jürg Gertsch is officially listed at the University of Bern as Deputy Managing Director and Co Director for Infrastructure and Research at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. His official University of Bern profile lists his email as juerg.gertsch@unibe.ch
About the PhD Programme
The position is connected to the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, also known as GCB Bern.
GCB Bern offers structured postgraduate training in experimental research. The official GCB page says the PhD programme usually lasts three years, and students must apply to the Graduate School no later than four months after starting the research project.
This specific project is advertised as a 4 year PhD position, which fits the SNSF project timeline from 2026 to 2030. The practical point is simple: you will be joining a funded research project while also completing a structured PhD training pathway at Bern.
GCB also states that each PhD student is supervised by a thesis committee consisting of a supervisor, co adviser and mentor. The supervisor is responsible for the research project, laboratory infrastructure, supervision and salary according to SNSF guidelines.
That is important. This is not an unfunded admission route. It is a research position linked to a funded project.
Who Should Apply?
You should apply if you have a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular biology
- Pharmacology
- Chemical biology
- Medicinal chemistry
- Proteomics
- Parasitology
- Biomedical sciences
- Molecular medicine
- Related life science fields
A strong applicant should have a good experimental background in biochemistry and molecular biology. Interest in drug discovery, parasitology and translational research is also important.
If you have experience with chemical biology, LC MS/MS, natural products, proteomics, molecular pharmacology, parasite culture, target identification or bioactive compound screening, do not hide it. Put it clearly in your CV and motivation letter.
This University of Bern PhD position is best for applicants in biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, parasitology, and drug discovery. If your background is closer to ecology, forestry, GIS, remote sensing, or environmental management, you may be a better fit for the Texas A&M University Kingsville Funded MS Assistantship 2026 in USA
What the Lab Will Likely Look For
Here is the part applicants often miss.
For a supervisor linked PhD like this, the first question is not “Do you want funding?” Everyone wants funding.
The real question is:
Can this person help move the project forward?
That means your application should prove fit.
You should show that you understand:
What Chagas disease is
Why Trypanosoma cruzi is difficult to treat
Why drug discovery needs target validation
How chemical biology can support mechanism of action studies
Why natural products can be useful in drug discovery
How LC MS/MS, proteomics or molecular assays can support the project
You do not need to know everything already. But your application must show direction.
The strongest applications are always specific. Do not send the same motivation letter everywhere. For example, a strong application for this Bern PhD should speak to Chagas disease and drug discovery, while an application for the University of Tasmania PhD Scholarship 2026 in Engineering should focus more on AI, CFD, engineering design, and ship hull optimisation.
Funding and Benefits
The position is advertised as a fully funded 4 year PhD position under an SNSF funded project.
The SNSF data portal confirms the project funding, project duration, University of Bern institution, and approved amount of CHF 1,410,500.
The call also indicates that the PhD will be within the structured GCB Bern environment. GCB confirms that PhD supervision includes salary responsibility according to SNSF guidelines.
Applicants should still confirm the exact salary amount, contract terms, starting date and employment details directly with the supervisor before accepting any offer.
Documents Required
Applicants should prepare:
Motivation letter
Academic CV
Contact details of 2 to 3 referees
Your motivation letter should not be long and empty. It should be focused.
A strong letter should answer four questions:
Why Chagas disease drug discovery?
Why the Gertsch Lab?
What skills are you bringing?
How does this PhD fit your research future?
Avoid writing only about Switzerland or your dream to study abroad. That does not win this kind of position. The supervisor wants to see research fit.
How to Apply
Send your application to:
Prof. Dr. Jürg Gertsch
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern
Email:juerg.gertsch@unibe.ch
Use a clear subject line such as:
Application for PhD Position in Chagas Disease Drug Discovery
Attach your motivation letter, CV and referee details.
Keep your email short. Let your CV and motivation letter do the main work.
Application Deadline
The position is available now and will be filled as soon as possible.
This means you should not wait for a formal deadline. For supervisor led PhD openings, the best candidate can be selected before many people even finish preparing their documents.
If your background fits, apply early.
If you are open to wider research positions in Europe, you can also check the University of Groningen PhD and Postdoc Positions 2026. Those roles cover AI governance, energy systems, behavioural neuroscience, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery in the Netherlands.
