11 PhD positions in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) TOP-GUT: "Training for Organoids modelling Physiology and Pathology in the human gastrointestinal tract”

TOP-GUT is a highly interdisciplinary and intersectoral training network focused on training 11 doctoral candidates (DCs) (of which, one is recruited by the Swiss partner) in the field ofinnovative preclinical model for advancing personalized medicine.

TOP-GUT aims at providing to 11 DCs the skills to

• develop new human organ models mimicking cellular compositions of organs
• advance organ-on-chip technology
• improve tools and protocols for more complex gastrointestinal (GI) models
• develop new models for personalized medicine using patient-derived organoids
• manage ethical, regulatory and legal aspects together with innovation management of implementation of GI models and to prepare the DCs for the European job market

Participating in TOP-GUT offers doctoral candidates many unique opportunities, including:

• A project as Marie Skłodowska Curie trainee in one of the participating institutions with the objective of receiving a doctoral degree (PhD).
• State-of-the art, exciting research in an international consortium with highly integrated research projects.
• up to 5 months of research training in the lab of another consortium member, mostly in a different EU country than the country where most of the project will take place.
• Training in both academic and commercial research environments.
• Salary according to EU guidelines for Marie Skłodowska Curie trainees, including mobility payments and family allowances where applicable.

Individual Projects details (find full information on PDF)  

DoC1: Characterization of carbohydrate complexity along the GI tract

Hosting Institution: University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark

Supervisor         Hans Wandall

Email address for the applicationshhw@sund.ku.dk

Subject area:  Organoid technology, glycobiology, mass spectrometry, infection biology

Project-specific selection criteria:  We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with a strong background in biochemistry and cell biology. The candidate must have a master's degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, (bio)medicine, biology, or similar. Knowledge of 2D and 3D cell culture, and familiarity with mass spectrometry, glycobiology, microscopy, and flow cytometry is an advantage. Familiarity with host-pathogen interactions is desired. You have a curious mindset and an active interest in glycosylation and cell biology. Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams. Excellent written and spoken English skills. Applicants should be highly organized and motivated to carry out research related to the topics described above.

DoC2: The impact of carbohydrate complexity on host-microbe interaction

Hosting Institution: Technische Universitat Berlin (TUB), Germany

Supervisor Sina Bartfeld

Email address for the applicationss.bartfeld@tu-berlin.de

Subject area: Organoid technology, microbiology, infection biology, microscopy

Project-specific selection criteria:  We are looking for an excellent and highly motivated student with a strong background in cell biology and infection biology. Candidate must have a master degree in Biology, Microbiology, Biomedicine or similar. Candidate should have laboratory experience in cell culture, ideally with organoids and be familiar with microscopy, flow cytometry, and transcriptomic techniques. Prior experience working with pathogens in BSL2 is desired. Very good communication skills, ability to work in a team and willingness to cooperate intensively with projects partners are expected. Very good English skills are required.

DoC3: Cross-tissue organoid immune cell integration and function

Hosting Institution:  Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitaetsmedizin Berlin (BIH@CHAR), Germany

The BIH provides a unique translational research hub at Europe’s largest university hospital. BIH’s mission is medical translation: to transfer the results of biomedical research into novel approaches to personalized prediction, prevention, diagnostics and therapies and, conversely, to use clinical observations to develop new research ideas. The aim is to deliver medically relevant benefits to patients and the general population.

Supervisor Birgit Sawitzki    

Email address for the applicationsbirgit.sawitzki@bih-charite.de

Subject area:   Immunology, state-of-the-art mechanistic investigations, multi-omics technologies & data analysis including AI

Project-specific selection criteria:

• M.Sc. or equivalent degree in Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biology, Cell/Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Genetics, Medical Biology, or a related field
• Strong academic background and dedication to translational research especially in immune-mediated diseases
• Interest and/or expertise in working with biological systems
• Prior experience with at least one of the following methods is highly desirable: multi-parameter (flow) cytometry, single cell RNAseq, computational biology or data analysis of multiplex datasets
• Scientific curiosity and motivation to perform scientifically rigorous experimental work
• Appreciation for interdisciplinary work and proactive drive to collaborate across disciplines
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team of basic scientists, data scientists & clinician scientists, excellent organizational skills and high reliability
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English (i.e. German not required)

DoC4: Automation of PDO models in microphysiological systems

Hosting Institution: TissUse GmbH, Berlin, Germany – www.tissuse.com

Supervisor Eva Dehne

Email address for the applicationscareer@tissuse.com

Subject area: Microphysiological multi-organ system / automation / human (patho)physiology / organoids

Project-specific selection criteria:

• MSc in Biotechnology, Biology or a comparable qualification
• Hands-on experience in cell culture, preferably human primary cells or iPSC; ideally experience in 3D tissue engineering
• Sound knowledge in molecular biology techniques and imaging
• Interest in working with microfluidic systems and promoting automated handling of the chips
• Ability to work in a team, commitment and sense of responsibility

DoC5: Building gut architecture

Hosting Institution: Utrecht Universiteit (UU), Division of Pharmacology, faculty of Science, The Netherlands

Supervisor Silvia Mihăilă    

Email address for the applicationss.mihaila@uu.nl

Subject area:  Bioengineering

Project-specific selection criteria:

• A Master's degree in a related field (e.g., Biomedical Engineering, Regeneratieve Medicine, Molecular Biology, or a similar discipline).
• Strong laboratory skills and experience in cell culture (organoids) and biofabrication (3D printing)
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• The ability to work independently and drive a research project forward.
• Prior experience in microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip systems, or similar technologies is a plus.

DoC6: An 3D platform to model gut-stroma interactions

Hosting Institution: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto (i3S), Portugal

Supervisor Cristina Barrias

Email address for the applicationstopgut_doc6@i3s.up.pt

Subject area:  Bioengineering/ Health Sciences

Project-specific selection criteria: Candidate must have a master´s degree in Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, or related Health Sciences fields. The candidate should have laboratory experience in biomaterials and 3D cell culture. Candidate must be familiar with cell and molecular biology techniques, including but not limited to: immunolabeling analysis, confocal imaging, and gene expression analysis. Preferred candidates will have experience in organoid cultures, microfluidic devices, and omics approaches.

DoC7: Gut on a chip for IBD research

Hosting Institution: Mimetas (MIM), NL

About MIMETAS

Mimetas is a world-leading biotech company in the fast-growing ‘organ-on-a-chip’-field. With our innovative products and services, we aim to improve the medicine development process, while reducing animal testing. Our clients are pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes who strive to discover new and better treatments for patients using disease- and tissue models.

Our team consists of scientists working on services and product development, as well as commercial people spreading the word. Our people are goal-driven, enthusiastic, analytical, and internationally oriented. We work in six locations in Leiden (headquarters), Enschede, UK, Germany, USA, and Japan.

Supervisor Dorota Kurek       

Email address for the applicationsd.kurek@mimetas.com

Subject area:  Organ-on-a-chip, human tissue and disease models, automation, phenotypic screening, AI-driven image analysis

Project-specific selection criteria:

Your profile:

• MSc in a Biology/Bioengineering or a related discipline with preference given to those candidates with experience in Stem cell/3D cell culture/immunology.
• You are highly experienced in tissue culture with a hands-on mentality;
• You are experienced in (confocal) microscopy and image analysis software;
• You have experience with live cell assays and standard molecular analysis techniques;
• You have affinity with novel technologies and are willing to contribute to the development thereof;
• Your work is of high quality, precise, and safe;
• You have a motivated and flexible work attitude and enjoy working in a dynamic environment;
• Proficiency in the English language.
• Experience with in vitro tissue modelling as well as omics data analysis and bioinformatics is a plus.

Your tasks will include:

• Development and implementation of novel tissue culture models in the industrial setting (e.g. gut, vasculature and immune system, and cancer models);
• Model validation (e.g. by performing toxicity studies, immunoassays, and other cell-based assays);
• Plan and execute experiments independently;
• Report on a regular basis to internal and external stakeholders;
• Write standard operating procedures;
• Contribute to general lab duties.

DoC8: Gastric cancer PDOs as model for personalized T-cell targeted immune cell therapy

Hosting Institution: University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark

Supervisor  Hans Wandall              

Email address for the applicationshhw@sund.ku.dk

Subject area:    Organoids, oncology, immunology, immunotherapy, antibodies, glycobiology,

Project-specific selection criteria:  We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with a strong background in biochemistry, immunology, or cell biology. The candidate must have a master's degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, (bio)medicine, biology, immunology, or similar. Knowledge of 2D and 3D cell culture and familiarity with immunology, cancer biology, glycobiology, microscopy, and flow cytometry is an advantage. You have a curious mindset and an active interest in cancer and cell biology, immunology, and personalized medicine. Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams. Excellent written and spoken English skills. Applicants should be highly organized and motivated to carry out research related to the topics described above.

DoC9: Gastric cancer organoids as model for personalized cancer therapy

Hosting Institution: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto (i3S), Portugal

Supervisor Celso Reis 

Email address for the applicationstopgut_doc9@i3s.up.pt

Subject area:   Health Sciences / Cell Biology / Oncobiology

Project-specific selection criteria:   We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a master´s degree in Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or related Health Sciences field. The candidate should have laboratory experience in cell biology and biochemistry. Candidate must be familiar with cell and molecular biology. Preferred candidates will have experience in techniques to study patient-derived organoids and their applications in cancer research, cell culture, molecular biology, omics approaches, immunolabeling analysis, imaging approaches and drug screen assays. Candidates should have excellent written and spoken English skills.

DoC10: The ethics and law of GI models – position not yet opened

Hosting Institution: University of Oslo (UiO), Norway

Supervisor Heidi Beate Bentzen / Søren Holm   

Email address for questions regarding the project  -     

Subject area: Law / Ethics / Philosophy

DoC11:Metabolic modulation of cancer PDOs with engineered probiotic bacteria for immunotherapy

Hosting Institution: Università della Svizzera italiana (IRB), Switzerland

Supervisor Roger Geiger       

Email address for the applicationsroger.geiger@irb.usi.ch

Subject area:   Immunology / Cancer Immunotherapy / Engineered Bacteria / Organoids

Project-specific selection criteria:  Applicants are required to hold a master's degree in Immunology, Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field within the Health Sciences domain. We seek candidates that are curious and passionate about science and integrate well into our team. Laboratory experience, in particular with work related to immunology, bacterial engineering or culturing of organoids is an advantage.