Microbiome Dynamics

12 Doctoral Positions in the Fields of Microbiology, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedicine, and Microbiome Research

MiCCrobioTAckle is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network focused on training doctoral candidates across disciplines and sectors to advance microbiota medicine as a new clinical approach to treat diseases and offer personalized, targeted, and preventive approaches to healthcare.

We are looking for:

12 highly motivated PhD candidates

to fill positions across our 7 European research centers located in Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, and Hungary. Together with experts in computational biology, microbiology, synthetic biology, clinical, and experimental science, we strive to provide microbiome-based solutions to improve clinical management of cancer cachexia, a debilitating metabolic syndrome affecting a large proportion of cancer patients.

YOUR PROFILE:

• You have a university degree (MSc or comparable) in systems biology, bioengineering, biology, bioinformatics, medicine, epidemiology, public health, neuroscience, behavioral science, biochemistry, microbiology, or related disciplines
• You are fluent in English and have a strong interest in conducting collaborative research
• You still have not been awarded a doctoral degree
• You comply with the transnational mobility rule (Details in the Horizon Europe Programme - Guide for applicants).

WE OFFER:

• You have the opportunity to pursue a PhD in top European research centers
• You will be working in an interdisciplinary environment and an international team
• You will experience strong mentoring and career support
• You will profit from a rich network-wide training and internship program both in the academic as in industrial sector
• You have the opportunity to learn cutting-edge microbiome research with medical applicability
• You can expect excellent infrastructure, modern workspaces, and very well-equipped labs.

The PhD candidates will work on the following topics:

Project	Host Institution	Project title	Supervisor
1	Leibniz-HKI (Germany)	Associating native gut microbiota profiles with cancer cachexia across different types of cancers	Prof. Panagiotou (gianni.panagiotou@leibniz-hki.de) APPLY HERE
2	DKFZ (Germany)	Prospective analysis on cachexia-related gut microbiota in colorectal cancer and associations with health-related quality of life and recurrence-free survival	Prof. Hoffmeister (m.hoffmeister@Dkfz-Heidelberg.de)
3	PHT (Hungary)	Investigation of cancer cachexia-associated gut microbiota pattern in a prospective lung cancer cohort	Dr. Lohinai (zoltan.lohinai@torokbalintkorhaz.hu)
4	PHT (Hungary)	Analysis of cancer cachexia-linked serum cytokine pattern in 4 cancer types.	Dr. Lohinai (zoltan.lohinai@torokbalintkorhaz.hu)
5	DTU (Denmark)	Engineered microbiota therapeutics for treatment of cancer cachexia	Prof. Sommer (msom@bio.dtu.dk) APPLY HERE
6	Leibniz-HKI (Germany)	Metabolic rewiring of S. boulardii output and ecology-based therapeutic strategies in cancer cachexia	Prof. Panagiotou (gianni.panagiotou@leibniz-hki.de) APPLY HERE
7	DTU (Denmark)	Develop and implement in vitro models to assess gut microbial species’ impact on gut barrier physiology and inflammation	Prof. Sommer (msom@bio.dtu.dk) APPLY HERE
8	UCC (Ireland)	Study the beneficial effect of specific microbial interventions in a mouse model of cancer cachexia	Dr. Schellekens (h.schellekens@ucc.ie)
9	UCC (Ireland)	Time for change: the role of the gut microbiota and circadian clock in cancer cachexia	Dr. Schellekens (h.schellekens@ucc.ie)
10	AUMC (Netherlands)	An in silico approach to FMT design (Msc)	Prof. Nieuwdorp (m.nieuwdorp@amsterdamumc.nl)
11	AUMC (Netherlands)	Study the clinical effect of orally administering FMT formulations (MD)	Prof. Nieuwdorp (m.nieuwdorp@amsterdamumc.nl)
12	Caelus Pharm (Netherlands)	New FMT paradigm: moving from ‘FMT-’ to ‘consortium-in-a-pill’ therapies	Dr. Sterkman (luc.sterkman@caelushealth.com)

Further information on the individual projects can be obtained on the supervisor’s websites or by e-mail to the contact information provided in the table.

Candidates are expected to start their positions on November 01, 2024, or soon after.

Application procedure:

Each host institute operates its own selection procedures. Please check the requirements and application materials by contacting each project supervisor or, if available, following the APPLY HERE button of the desired project.

Application deadline: September 30, 2024, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Dieses Projekt wird durch die European Research Executive Agency (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01) gefördert.