MSCA PhD student position in HEAL-4WARD Doctoral Network

Biofilm formation in wound environments is a major barrier to effective healing, as microbial communities interact with host tissue properties that are still poorly understood. In particular, the role of tissue mechanics in regulating biofilm development and bacterial communication remains largely unexplored, limiting the development of targeted intervention strategies. This PhD project focuses on integrating biomimetic reconstitution and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to investigate how the physical and biochemical properties of wound-like environments influence biofilm progression. The project will develop extracellular matrix models with controlled rheological properties that mimic relevant wound conditions, enabling systematic study of mono- and multispecies biofilms.