Scientist - Development of Ion-Selective Electrode
Scientist - Development of Ion-Selective Electrode
About us
We are developing Wear & Forget® wearables for continuous hormone monitoring, combining on-demand sweat extraction with aptamer-based biosensing. Based at the Lausanne Biopôle, we are a small, multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers driven by a shared mission: bringing real-time, non-invasive biomarker monitoring to reproductive and maternal health.
We thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where scientific rigor, rapid iteration, and real-world impact are at the core of everything we do.
The role
We are looking for a motivated BSc or MSc graduate with hands-on experience developing ion-selective and potentiometric sensors to contribute to the development of a sweat chloride sensor for our wearable platform.
You will help take an existing sensor concept through optimization, validation, and integration, with a focus on reliable performance in real sweat, including selectivity, stability, drift, reproducibility, calibration, and sensor lifetime.
This role is well suited to an early-career scientist or engineer who is eager to develop practical expertise in electrochemical sensing within a multidisciplinary start-up environment. General electrochemistry experience is welcome, but direct experience with ion-selective or potentiometric sensor development is strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Develop and optimize chloride-selective and reference electrodes for sweat
- Optimize membrane composition, electrode interfaces, and sensor conditioning
- Characterize selectivity, sensitivity, drift, stability, reproducibility, and lifetime
- Validate sensors in artificial and human sweat and investigate matrix effects
- Establish robust fabrication, calibration, and testing protocols
- Integrate the sensor with microfluidics, electronics, and the MoleSense wearable platform
- Troubleshoot failure modes and help drive the sensor toward a reproducible, manufacturable design
- Document development activities and contribute to intellectual property and product development
About you
- You hold a BSc or MSc degree in electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, materials science, bioengineering, chemical engineering, or a related field
- You are motivated to work hands-on in the laboratory and contribute to sensor development from prototype to integrated device
- You have a basic understanding of ion-selective or potentiometric sensors, or a strong interest in developing expertise in this area
- Familiarity with ion-selective membranes, ionophores, reference electrodes, and electrode fabrication is an advantage
- You understand, or are interested in learning about, practical challenges such as drift, calibration stability, matrix effects, fouling, and reference-electrode stability
- Experience testing sensors in sweat, biofluids, or other complex matrices is a strong advantage
- Experience with wearable sensors, flexible or printed electrodes, microfluidics, or embedded electronics is a plus
- You are curious, rigorous, resourceful, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment
- You are able to work independently while collaborating closely with scientists, engineers, and product-development teams
What we offer
- The opportunity to work on cutting-edge femtech hardware from prototype to product
- A collaborative, multidisciplinary, and international team
- The opportunity to build next-generation molecular-sensing technologies with real clinical impact
- Swiss visa and work-permit sponsorship for outstanding international candidates
- A fast-moving and highly collaborative team where decisions happen quickly
- Flexible working hours
- The resources, autonomy, and trust to do exceptional work
- Access to EPFL’s world-class laboratories and research ecosystem
- Direct collaboration with leading scientists and engineers across biosensing, chemistry, and device development
- Clear opportunities to grow technically and take on increasing responsibility as the company scales