PhD Position - Machine Learning & Plant Structural-Functional Modelling

The Bioinformatics Division of the Institute of Biological and Geosciences (IBG-4) processes and develops methods and algorithms to achieve a fundamental understanding of high-dimensional data and processes in the bioeconomy in particular. Bioinformatics at Forschungszentrum Jülich plays a leading role at the international level, for example in the field of plant and microbial data management, in the evaluation of new methods of genome analysis, in the integration, interpretation, and visualization of high-dimensional omics data from the field of bioeconomics, and in the modeling, simulation, and engineering of biomolecular systems, including enzymes. Are you interested in plant sciences? Do you have a passion for applying cutting-edge methods to explore the bioeconomic relevance of plants?

Your Job:

• Develop AI pipelines that translate -omic signatures into dynamic model parameters
• Implement reinforcement-learning agents that optimise model performance
• Collaborate closely with modellers, molecular biologists and data scientists across IBG-3 and IBG-4
• Communicate your science by presenting at conferences, publishing software and peer-reviewed publications

Your Profile:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Data Science, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Physics or a related field
• Solid programming skills and knowledge in deep learning, statistical modelling or reinforcement learning
• Interest in (or willingness to learn) plant physiology, genomics and process-based modelling; any prior exposure to crop or ecological models is a plus
• Proven ability to work independently, communicate clearly in English and thrive in an interdisciplinary team

We look forward to receiving your application by 14.9.2025

Apply here

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PhD Candidate in Cardiac Biology

A PhD position is available at the Department of Medical Biology (IMB), The Faculty of Health Sciences with the project  “Rejuvenating Cardiomyocytes to heal hearts with better scars”. The position is in The Hortells lab, associated with the Cardiovascular Research Group.

The PhD candidate will participate in the research project titled “Rejuvenating Cardiomyocytes to heal hearts with better scars”. The project will be supervised by Associate Professor Luis Hortells. The cardiovascular research group is specialized in the study of cardiovascular pathophysiology and the Hortells lab is focused on cell communication in the heart and the peripheral nervous system in the context of disease and aging. Specifically, this project focus on improving the outcome after a myocardial infarction.

Required qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in biomedical sciences will be given priority, but other life sciences masters will be also taken into consideration (medicine, biology, biotechnology, pharmacology,  neurosciences, veterinary medicine).
• Documented experience in molecular/cellular biology is required.
• Experience with cardiac cell work (including cardiac cell isolation), qPCR, histology, antibody-based techniques, confocal microscopy, small molecules/nanoparticles-based therapies, and live imaging are a must.
• Applicants must document fluency of in English and be able to work in an international environment. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.

Deadline 15th September 2025

For details click here

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PhD Position in Food Allergy, Gut-Brain Axis & Inflammation in Brain Disorders

Growing evidence suggests that allergic immune responses in the gut can influence the brain, but how these signals are transmitted and whether they contribute to brain disorders remains unclear. This project explores how food allergy during early life alters the gut microbiota, reprograms immune cells, and promotes their trafficking to the brain, ultimately triggering neuroinflammation. The PhD student will help uncover the molecular and cellular pathways linking the allergic gut to the inflamed brain, and how these pathways shape disease risk later in life.

The successful candidate will work closely with experts in food allergy, neuroimmunology, gut physiology, and computational biology to characterize immune cell responses, construct spatial maps of inflammation along the gut-brain axis, and identify immune-mediated drivers of brain dysfunction.

The Computational Neurobiology group (Dr. Valeriya Malysheva), Gut-Immune-Brain Axis Lab (Dr. Seppe De Schepper) at the VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, and the incoming lab of Dr. Javier Aguilera Lizarraga at the Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante (IN, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Spain), are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join a collaborative and interdisciplinary project investigating how food allergy affects gut-brain communication and contributes to brain inflammation.

We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic candidate with:

• A Master’s degree in immunology, neuroscience, molecular biology, or related disciplines
• FELASA certification
• Ideally, prior experience in bioinformatics and computational biology
• Strong interest in immune-brain interactions and food allergy-related immunology
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English
• A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm to work in an international, interdisciplinary environment

For more information: please contact valeriya.malysheva@vib.be or Sebastiaan.DeSchepper@vib.be

Click here

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Posted on August 13, 2025

PhD position in Multidimensional Omics Data Analysis

The Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS - e. V. develops efficient analytical methods for health research. Thus, it contributes to the improvement of the prevention, early diagnosis, and therapy of diseases like cardiovascular diseases or cancer. Overall, the institute strives to advance precision medicine by combining knowledge from different fields such as biology, chemistry, computer science, medicine, pharmacology, and physics. ISAS is a member of the Leibniz Association and is publicly funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and its federal states.

You will be responsible for

• Setup a knowledge graph in neo4J for microbiome research
• Integration of microbiome research data from the project with data from literature (e.g., molecular pathways) using the knowledge graph
• Re-analysis of already published data
• Identification of microbial effectors from the knowledge graph

Your profile

• Masters, Diploma or equivalent degree in Bioinformatics or similar, obtained by the start date
• Experience in programming and databases
• Basic biological understanding
• Proficiency in scientific English (written and spoken)
• Willingness to spend several months at other institutions abroad. The project includes the following secondments: three months at University of Pisa, Italy (Mariagrazia di Luca), two months at Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany (Stephan Fuchs)
• The following conditions of international mobility of researchers must be fulfilled: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment

For details click here

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12 PhD Positions in Biology of Ageing and for Metabolism Research

The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) in Germany is a joint venture of the University of Cologne Excellence Cluster on Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), the University Hospital and the Max Planck Institutes for Biology of Ageing and for Metabolism Research. We offer up to 12 FULLY FUNDED PHD POSITIONS to highly motivated and talented researchers. The structured PhD training programme within a cutting-edge research environment will start on an individual basis between July 1 and October 1, 2026.

We offer

• An outstanding international research environment at one of Europe's most prestigious ageing research clusters, comprising 49 interdisciplinary research groups
• Initial work contracts of at least three years with payment based on the German TV-L E13 scale, 65% or on an equivalently remunerated PhD support contract of the Max Planck Society
• Dedicated supervision with academic guidance from thesis advisory committees
• Comprehensive PhD programme in the vibrant city of Cologne, conducted in English
• Individual career mentoring & coaching, wide range of methodology & soft skills courses
• Annual conference travel grants
• Intensive support and guidance for international students in all administrative matters

We are looking for

• Applicants with an MSc or equivalent degree in Biology, Cell/Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Genetics, Medical Biology, Translational Medicine, or related fields
• Students with excellent academic performance in their BSc and MSc studies and a clear interest in the above-mentioned research areas, with strong motivation for ageing research
• Candidates with very good English skills (C1 level, written and spoken)

Your application

APPLICATION PERIOD: AUGUST 12 - NOVEMBER 3, 2025
Online application: https://application.ageing-grad-school.de
Contact: cga-coordination@uni-koeln.de

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15-20 fully funded PhD in AI/ML and Systems Medicine

The AITHYRA-CeMM International PhD Program in AI/ML, Molecular Technologies and Systems Medicine

The AITHYRA-CeMM PhD Program will focus on the thematic areas of infection, immunity, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, network medicine, patient-derived organoids, bioengineering and aging research. Particular emphasis will be placed on the integration of multimodal biological data, development of deep learning and large language models for biological discovery or graph-based methods for molecular and cellular networks. The technological foundation further consists of systems biology, virology, high-throughput genetics, genomics and proteomics, molecular and cell biology, high content automatic imaging, chemical biology, and organic chemical synthesis.

Our goal is to enable and empower AI/ML and life science students with the ability to successfully design, execute, manage and explain a research project in modern AI-driven molecular medicine, through a strongly participatory and interactive program. The program is conceptualized in three ‘modes’: collect, connect and contribute. These will guide you through scientific excellence in data generation and validation to responsible and professional scientific citizenship.

Deadline for applications: 10 September 2025

Apply here

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PhD scholarship in microbiome bioinformatics

Do you want to grow as a scientist and become a microbiome researcher at the best technical university in Europe? Do you want to hone your scientific skills and use programming to help address the antimicrobial resistance epidemic that kills over a million people annually? Then this Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded PhD scholarship, located in one of the World’s most livable cities, might be for you!

Working with colleagues in the MULTIBIOMINE project, you will develop computational methods that use novel strategies to uncover hidden features in large metagenomic datasets. These features include both the weapons and shields that bacteria use when fighting each other: antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance. In the Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, your primary tasks will be to:

• Develop and validate novel computational tools for analyzing metagenomic data
• Publish peer-reviewed research articles on bioinformatic tools and their application
• Present and discuss research findings to both peers and the public
• Assist in teaching courses and co-supervise MSc/BSc students with relevant projects
• Visit and collaborate with research partners in Denmark and abroad

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

• Master’s degree in bioinformatics or a closely related field
• Documented metagenomics experience
• Experience with writing and running data analysis scripts in a command-line interface
• Solid programming experience in Python
• Experience with scripting and data analyses in R
• Strong English communication skills; both written and orally
• Experience with the Snakemake workflow management system
• An interest in working with antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Apply Before 22/08/2025, 03:29

Apply here

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Posted on July 30, 2025

PhD position in AI for biomedical data analysis

You will join the Institute of Medical Systems Biology and the bAIome Center for Biomedical AI (baiome.org) to complement our lively and enthusiastic team of machine learning and data analysis experts. The main tasks include the analysis of complex biomedical data using modern AI methods, as well as the development of novel machine and deep learning algorithms to understand, predict, and treat diseases. You will work with multimodal biomedical datasets including omics, imaging, and patient data and apply cutting-edge AI models such as graph neural networks, transformer architectures, or diffusion models. In close collaboration with clinical partners, you will translate your research into practical, translationally relevant applications, contributing to advances in personalized medicine.

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in computer science, bioinformatics or related fields
• Solid understanding of machine and deep learning and relevant frameworks (e.g. Pytorch or Tensorflow, Keras, scikit-learn, OpenCV)
• Proficiency in Python, Linux and HPC environments
• Good communication skills to interact with collaborators ranging from machine learning researchers to pathologists or medical students
• Knowledge of biology and medicine is a plus
• Highly motivated with an interest to work in an interdisciplinary team spanning machine learning, bioinformatics, and medicine
• Strong English language skills to communicate and collaborate in our diverse work environment

For details click here

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PhD Studentship: Health Data Science

The Child and adolescent Health Impacts of Learning Indoor environments under net zero (CHILI) Hub is a program funded by the MRC and NIHR, the goal of which is to understand the health effects we can expect to see as the UK transitions to net-zero. It is a collaboration between University College London, Imperial College London, The London School of Hygiene & Topical Medicine, Swansea University, the University of Leeds, the University of York and the UK Health Security Agency.

As the climate changes, the impact of air pollution on child and adolescent health is one of the most complex and challenging problems in health data science. Air pollution is composed of several different environmental pollutants, for example particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) are commonly measured. Each pollutant is produced and destroyed by different processes, and the levels of the various pollutants are correlated with each other, for example, and increase in NO2 causes an increase in O3. Statistical methodological developments are required to understand the relationship between air pollutants and health outcomes to account for both the size and nature of the data.

This PhD project will develop statistical modelling frameworks that are able to handle large-scale, complex, and correlated time series data, and apply these frameworks to population-scale datasets to generate new knowledge and insights about the impact of different air pollutants on child and adolescent health. This may include techniques like generalisations of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models, Dynamic Linear Models (DLM) and joint longitudinal and survival models. To appropriately capture uncertainty for health policy decision-making, these methods will be developed using a Bayesian framework.

Reference: RS863

Closes: 11th August 2025

For details click here

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PhD student in cancer proteomics

PhD student in cancer proteomics (m/f/d) available in the Division of Proteomics of Stem Cells and cancer, headed by Prof. Jeroen Krijgsveld. Our division develops innovative proteomic approaches to understand proteome regulation in cancer, both in mechanistic and clinical studies. To expand our activities, we are looking for a motivated PhD student to investigate mechanisms of disease and drug resistance in myeloid leukemia.

We are looking for motivated researcher with experience in mass spectrometry-based proteomics to join a project aimed at understanding cellular plasticity, therapy response, and drug resistance in myeloid leukemia. The successful candidate will perform proteomic experiments to investigate cellular plasticity using primary cells, cell lines, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. To this end, the candidate will have direct access to cutting-edge mass spectrometry and advanced bioinformatics infrastructure. The project is part of the collaborative research center “Cellular Plasticity in Malignant Myeloid Diseases – From Mechanisms to Therapy” and is a close collaboration with the Department of Hematology and other partners in the consortium.

Your profile:

Posted on July , 2025

PhD Positions at the International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life

The International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life (IMPRS-ML) currently has an open call for fully funded PhD student positions in the areas of biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, systems biology, and computational biology. We are looking for outstanding graduates from all over the world to join our network of passionate young scientists in Munich.

Eligibility

(a) Entry with an MSc degree

Entry level for doctoral studies at IMPRS-ML usually is a Master of Science degree or an equivalent degree. Most applicants either have a combination of BSc and MSc (with a total equivalent of 300 ECTS credits) or a 5-year integrated MSc. Candidates are invited to apply with any academic background relevant to the multidisciplinary research of our IMPRS-ML Faculty, including but not limited to Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics.

(b) Entry with a 4-years BSc hons (or equivalent degree)

EU degrees: Applicants with a 4-year first class BSc hons degree awarded by a university inside the European Bologna System (equivalent to 240 ECTS credits) are eligible to apply.

UK/Australia/Canada degrees: Applicants with a 4-year first class BSc hons or MSci degree (equivalent to 240 ECTS credits) from the UK, Australia or Canada are eligible to apply.

Our next application round will start on 25 August 2025. We do not accept applications outside of our application rounds.

PhD position in Molecular and Computational Neurogenomics

We are a highly motivated international team of researchers at the Molecular Neurogenomics group(Jordanova Lab) and the Computational Neurobiology group (Malysheva Lab) at the VIB CMN. We are excited to announce a call for a joint PhD student in our labs to work on a challenging project at the interface of neurodegeneration, genomics, computational and systems biology. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) represents the most common genetic disorder of the peripheral nervous system. Patients experience progressive distal muscle weakness and wasting, sensory loss, and skeletal deformities ultimately leaving them severely disabled. This lifelong disorder is currently incurable. The most prominent protein family implicated in the etiology of CMT are aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARS). Ubiquitous and essential enzymes, ARS catalyse a critical step in protein biosynthesis by charging tRNA with their cognate amino acid. Jordanova Lab reported that dominant mutations in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YARS) cause a clinical variant of CMT, and so far, six additional cytoplasmic ARS have been implicated in the same pathology.

Profile

The candidate should:

• have an MSc in Systems Biology, Molecular Biology, Natural Sciences or related disciplines
• be very motivated and enthusiastic to learn and expand both computational and experimental skill set
• have an analytical mindset
• be able to summarize data extracted from the literature and shape research objectives
• be able to communicate with experimental and computational scientists efficiently
• have excellent communication and writing skills in English

Required skills

• confident in basic molecular biology techniques, such as cell cultures, basic genomics data generation
• knowledge of (theory behind) gene regulatory mechanisms and multimodal data integration
• basic/intermediate programming skills in R and/or python
• Ability to adapt to the research environments while being full members of two labs

Desirable skills

• statistical analysis
• basic processing of NGS data
• experience with iPSC and/or cell culturing
• knowledge of and some experience with genetic perturbation assays, such as CRISPR

For details click here

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Posted on June 17, 2025

VIB.AI International PhD Call 2025

 

Are you curious, committed, and ready to shape the future of AI in biology? VIB.AI is looking for PhD candidates to start in autumn/winter 2025/26!

We are especially interested in recruiting PhD students who are eager to develop and apply artificial intelligence techniques and mechanistic mathematical models to explore fundamental questions in biology. The PhD program is organized in partnership between VIB.AI, the other VIB Centers (CBD, CMN and CSB) and partner universities (KU Leuven, University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel).

VIB & VIB.AI offers a unique PhD experience with access to state-of-the-art facilities, expertise, and training. PhD students will have the opportunity to work together with internationally recognized scientists and develop their research projects in an innovative research environment.

At the start of the program, you'll take part in an extended onboarding period that includes specialized courses and hands-on training in AI and machine learning. You'll also have the chance to explore different labs and core facilities, meet fellow researchers, and take part in social and networking activities—all designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and connections to confidently launch your PhD journey.

Requirements

To be considered for a PhD position, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a relevant master’s degree or an equivalent higher education qualification in fields such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology/Neuroscience/Chemistry, Bioengineering, Biotechnology or other related fields
• Demonstrate academic excellence, typically reflected by graduation with distinction (cum laude) or through notable professional accomplishments.
• Relevant experience in interdisciplinary projects involving artificial intelligence and the life sciences is a plus.

Candidates who do not yet possess a master’s degree may be required to enroll in a predoctoral program, subject to the decision of the doctoral school. Further details will be provided if you are shortlisted.

This may include previous research in computational modeling, machine learning applications in genomics, protein structure, participation in bioinformatics projects, or hands-on experience with AI tools applied to biological data sets such as omics data, protein structure prediction, or biomedical imaging.

Deadline: 22nd June 2025

For apply click here

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Doctoral Researcher: Microbiome Proteins in Neurodegenerative Disease

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.

The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) is an interdisciplinary research centre of the University of Luxembourg.
We conduct fundamental and translational research in the field of Systems Biology and Biomedicine - in the lab, in the clinic and in silico. We focus on neurodegenerative processes and are especially interested in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and their contributing factors. The LCSB recruits talented scientists from various disciplines: computer scientists, mathematicians, biologists, chemists, engineers, physicists and clinicians from more than 50 countries currently work at the LCSB. We excel because we are truly interdisciplinary, and together we contribute to science and society.

Your role

Pathogenesis in the age of the microbiome (MICRO-PATH; https://micro-path.uni.lu) is a highly competitive, interdisciplinary, research-intensive PhD training programme, supported by the PRIDE funding scheme of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) and the programme's partner institutions: University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg Institute of Health, and Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology. MICRO-PATH addresses research questions based on causal and mechanistic studies of microbiome-mediated pathogenesis.

Your profile

Early-stage researcher: a researcher without a PhD, who is in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of research career, measured from the date when the degree was obtained, which would formally entitle the person to embark on a doctorate. Graduation in the field of bioinformatics, biology, or related fields - M.Sc. is required.

Key qualifications and qualities include:

• Experience in bioinformatics/computational biology; experience in protein structure prediction is considered an important asset
• Well-structured and autonomous working style, good organizational and communication skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English. German and/or French is a plus
• Team player

For details click here

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Posted on June 10, 2025

PhD Position in Intestinal Microbiome Research

The Chair of Intestinal Microbiome is looking for a research associate for a PhD position at the earliest possible date. PhD Position in Intestinal Microbiome Research (m/f/d) The Chair of Intestinal Microbiome, School of Life Sciences of the TU Munich offers a PhD position to per-form research on the Intestinal Microbiome.

We are an international interdisciplinary team bridging molecu-lar microbiology, ecology and infection research with the focus to understand mechanisms of host-microbe and microbe-microbe interaction in the gut. Our lab has a broad expertise in employing synthetic microbial communities, gnotobiotic mouse infection models as well as in molecular microbiology of gut microbiota and enteric pathogens.

The TUM School of Life Sciences provides an interactive and supportive environment for advancing intestinal microbiome research and extensive support for PhD candidates. Researchers benefit from opportunities to engage in a wide range of interdisciplinary collaborations such as the Collaborative Research Center 1371 “Microbial Signatures – Functional Relevance in the Digestive Tract” (https://www.sfb1371.tum.de/) and access to different core facilities (sequencing, proteomics and metabolomics). This dynamic setting fosters innovation and teamwork, enabling cutting-edge discoveries in the field of microbiome studies.

The candidate will work on a project funded within the DFG Priority Programme “Illuminating Gene Functions in the Human Gut Microbiome” (SPP 2474) and be involved in microbiology and molecular microbiology of the gut microbiota, metaproteomic analyses, functional genomic screens and metagenomic and as well as metabolic modelling of gut microbial communities.

Your profile

• Degree in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or related disciplines.

• Previous experience in microbiology/bioinformatics/bacterial genetics would be desirable.

• Knowledge of a scripting language and R is a plus.

• Excellent English communication skills (written and spoken)

Application

Applications, including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, and names of previous supervisor/referees with e-mail addresses should be sent as single pdf via e-mail to: stecher@tum.de no later than July 15th 2025.

Prof. Dr. Bärbel Stecher

For details click here

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PhD scholarship within Bioinformatics, using data science in microbial metagenomics

The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD-position related to the discovery of microbial biomarkers for monitoring the ecological state of seafloor sediments.

The project BIOmdARK aims to improve our abilities to find stable biomarker information about seafloor sediment ecological status from the sequencing of environmental microbial DNA. Seafloor samples contain many new or uncharacterized microbial organisms, typically referred to as Biological Dark Matter (BDM). A main idea of this project is to make use of the pattern matching abilities of the Tsetlin Machine in machine learning to be able to recognize signals in the BDM in addition to performing a taxonomic classification in the classical context.

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree or a cand.med.vet. degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background relevant to the position and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

Required Academic qualifications

• Master's degree (MSc) in Bioinformatics, Data Science or similar fields with a large overlap with these two.
• Excellent skills in coding. We will use both python, R and bash (UNIX shell scripting).

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• Experience with metagenome data analysis.
• Experience with the use of High Performance Computing facilities.
• Insight into a range of machine learning methods and ideas.

Remuneration and further information

For further information, please contact Lars Snipen, professor

E-mail: lars.snipen@nmbu.no

Deadline 15th June 2025

For details click here

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PhD Studentship: The Last of Us Developing a Genomic Epidemiology Toolkit for Fungal Outbreaks

Drug-resistant fungal infections—caused by species like Candida auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus—pose a growing threat in healthcare, with mortality rates exceeding 50% in immunocompromised patients. Resistance is often acquired before patient infection through environmental exposure to fungicides, highlighting the urgent need for effective outbreak tracking and control.

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to develop a cutting-edge genomic epidemiology toolkit for real-time fungal surveillance. You’ll optimize DNA extraction protocols using advanced enzyme-based methods, overcoming the tough fungal cell wall. You’ll also design robust workflows for targeted long-read sequencing of clinical and environmental samples, enabling accurate identification and resistance genotyping fungal pathogens from the WHOs fungal priority pathogen list.

In the second part of the PhD, you will build scalable, user-friendly bioinformatics pipelines for rapid genome analysis, tested using samples from the UK Health Security Agency and real-world outbreaks. This interdisciplinary project integrates microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and public health, offering hands-on training and the chance to make a real impact on global infectious disease management. The resulting toolkit will help public health labs worldwide detect and track fungal outbreaks swiftly and accurately.

This project is part of an exciting new Doctoral Training Programme in Microbial Genomics for Health Protection in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This is funded by NIHR as part of a Health Protection Unit in Public Health Genomics between the University of Birmingham and UKHSA. In addition to the extensive training offered to all PhD students at UoB, the cohort of  students on this DTP will receive training and opportunities at both UoB and UKHSA in the area of public health genomics.

Applications of a two page CV and covering letter including your experience, suitability and motivation should be sent to hpru-phgenomics@contacts.bham.ac.uk by 31st July 2025.

Supervisors: Dr. Megan McDonald (UoB Biosciences), Dr Lucy Crouch (UoB Institute of Microbiology and Infection), Dr Johanna Rhodes (UoB Biosciences), Dr Joshua Quick (UoB Biosciences), Mycological Reference Lab Bristol (UKHSA) and Dr Charlie Reid (UKHSA).

For details click here

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Posted on May 30, 2025

16 PhD Fellowships in Neuroscience

Neuroscience Academy Denmark (NAD) offers 16 fully funded PhD fellowships to exceptional and highly motivated candidates pursuing a career in neuroscience. NAD is a collaborative national initiative that brings together the neuroscience research environments of Aalborg University, Aarhus University, University of Copenhagen, and the University of Southern Denmark and includes more than 200 laboratories from these universities. In addition, the neuroscience research environments based at the University hospitals are also active NAD partners.

Programme highlights – What’s in it for you…

• Three lab rotations in excellent neuroscience labs during the pre-PhD year
• Specialised neuroscience courses and workshops
• Retreats and networking events
• The opportunity to design your own PhD project in close collaboration with your PhD supervisor(s)
• Three years of PhD studies in a research lab that aligns with your interests

Application eligibility and requirements

All interested candidates with a documented background in neuroscience are encouraged to apply. You are expected to hold an MD or MSc in fields such as neuroscience, medicine, molecular biomedicine, biochemistry, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, biology, psychology, computer science, or other relevant areas. What matters most is your sincere interest in neuroscience and documented experience from neuroscience courses, neuroscience projects, or similar activities.

Closing date 30 Jun 2025

For details click here

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PhD Studentship - MRC Integrative Toxicology

Project Title: Characterising clonal dynamics of somatic mutations in vivo for early prediction of carcinogenicity using advanced error corrected next generation sequencing

Supervisor: Dr Alex Cagan

Department: Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge

Industrial Partner: GSK

Somatic mutations drive cancer and may underlie many chronic diseases - yet current safety testing struggles to detect the earliest signals of carcinogenic risk. This PhD project aims to transform how we evaluate the potential for new drugs and chemicals to cause cancer, by tracking somatic mutations and clonal expansions in rodent tissues using cutting-edge, ultra-accurate error-corrected sequencing (ecNGS).

Working at the interface of evolutionary genomics and toxicology, the student will generate high-resolution maps of mutation burden and cancer driver mutation (CDM) dynamics in response to carcinogenic exposure. By integrating new computational and experimental approaches (e.g. Laser capture microdissection and ecNGS), and accessing samples and expertise through GSK's Investigative Toxicology group, the student will help develop a novel framework for early carcinogenicity prediction. This project offers the rare opportunity to translate high-resolution molecular data into practical tools for non-clinical drug safety and regulatory science. This has the potential to revolutionise our ability to detect and understand the carcinogenic impact of chemical compounds.

To apply please visit: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/ and click 'Apply Now' selecting the following course:

• PhD in Genetics(Full-time)
• Start Date: 1st October 2025
• Project Supervisor: Dr Alex Cagan
• Project Title: Include title as listed above
• Research Proposal: Include project details as listed above

Appy here

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PhD student in Diabetes Epidemiology and Health Data Science

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide and exerts a disproportionate burden on individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Despite advances in care, traditional risk prediction models like the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine fail to account for the immunological dysregulation inherent in T1D. As part of an ongoing Strategic Research Agreement, the Deep Digital Phenotyping (DDP) research unit at LIH aims to revolutionise cardiovascular risk stratification by integrating deep clinical, digital, and immunological phenotyping.

The PhD candidate will primarily focus on the clinical and epidemiological characterisation of cardiovascular risk among people living with T1D, using multimodal data in the large SFDT1 cohort study. This work will lay the groundwork for developing novel patient clusters and digital phenotypes, leveraging machine learning approaches to identify individuals at high CV risk based on clinical and biochemical markers, immune markers, digital health data (e.g., CGM metrics), and routine laboratory tests.

Key Responsibilities:

 

• Conduct advanced clinical epidemiological analyses using large cohort data (SFDT1, but also REVADIAB, ANGIOSAFE2);
• Apply unsupervised machine learning techniques to derive clinically meaningful clusters based on CV risk factors and digital biomarkers;
• Identify phenotypic extremes to guide downstream immunological analyses;
• Collaborate closely with bioinformaticians, immunologists, and diabetologists to ensure integrated analysis and interpretation;
• Prepare scientific manuscripts for publication and present findings at national and international conferences;
• Participate in strategic planning and dissemination activities in coordination with other partners.

How to apply

Applications including a letter detailing your motivation and a curriculum vitae should be sent through our website via the apply button below.

Apply

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Posted on May 07, 2025

VIB.AI International PhD Call 2025

Are you curious, committed, and ready to shape the future of AI in biology? VIB.AI is looking for PhD candidates to start in autumn/winter 2025/26!

We are especially interested in recruiting PhD students who are eager to develop and apply artificial intelligence techniques and mechanistic mathematical models to explore fundamental questions in biology. The PhD program is organized in partnership between VIB.AI, the other VIB Centers (CBD, CMN and CSB) and partner universities (KU Leuven, University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel).

 

VIB & VIB.AI offers a unique PhD experience with access to state-of-the-art facilities, expertise, and training. PhD students will have the opportunity to work together with internationally recognized scientists and develop their research projects in an innovative research environment.

At the start of the program, you'll take part in an extended onboarding period that includes specialized courses and hands-on training in AI and machine learning. You'll also have the chance to explore different labs and core facilities, meet fellow researchers, and take part in social and networking activities—all designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and connections to confidently launch your PhD journey.

Requirements:

To be considered for a PhD position, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a relevant master’s degree or an equivalent higher education qualification in fields such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology/Neuroscience/Chemistry, Bioengineering, Biotechnology or other related fields
• Demonstrate academic excellence, typically reflected by graduation with distinction (cum laude) or through notable professional accomplishments.
• Relevant experience in interdisciplinary projects involving artificial intelligence and the life sciences is a plus.

Deadline: 22nd June 2025

For details click here

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Posted on December, 2023