We are currently looking for talented and motivated candidates with a background in chemistry and/or biology to become Sweet Crosstalk PhD candidates. Do you want to be trained as a scientific expert in Innovative Glyco- and Microbiome Science? Are you open-minded, curious, ready to explore new ways, and do you like the challenge of working in a dynamic international network with 15 PhDs at seven leading European academic research institutes and four life science companies, covering different aspects of Innovative Glyco- and Microbiome Science? 

Overview of available Early Stage Researcher (ESR) PhD positions (see our website for more details)

• ESR1: Tom Wennekes (Utrecht University, NL) - Developing multifunctional mucin O-glycan arrays and chemical probes
• ESR2: Nathalie Juge (Quadram Institute, UK) - Deciphering relationship of mucin glycosylation and gut bacteria
• ESR3: Nathalie Juge (Quadram Institute, UK) - Defining molecular mechanism of O-glycan recognition by gut bacteria
• ESR4: Hermen Overkleeft (Leiden University, NL) - Probing/ perturbing glycosyl hydrolase activity at mucosal-microbiota interface
• ESR5: Antionio Molinaro (University of Naples FII, IT) - Full structural determination of LPS from Gram negative microbiota
• ESR6: Antonio Molinaro (University of Naples FII, IT) - Screening of microbial glycoconjugates eukaryotic interactors
• ESR7: Anne Salonen (University of Helsinki, FI) - Molecular characterization of cervicovaginal mucus-microbiota interactions
• ESR8: Tom Wennekes (Utrecht University, NL) - Developing chemical probes for microbial lectins, transferases & hydrolases
• ESR9: Carme Rovira (University of Barcelona, ES) - Computer simulation of structure & dynamics of glycan-binding enzymes
• ESR10: Anne Salonen (University of Helsinki, FI) - HMOs & intestinal endotoxins in early life microbiota & immune development
• ESR11: Patrice Cani (UCLouvain, BE) - Impact of mucosal-gut microbiota interface on pathophysiology of metabolic disease
• ESR12: Joeri Beauprez (Inbiose, BE) - Characterization of novel microbiota-derived glycosyltransferases and glycosylhydrolases
• ESR13: Louise Vigsnæs (Glycom, DK) - Impact of human glycans (e.g. HMOs) on gut barrier function and mucosal microbiota
• ESR14: Annick Mercenier (Nutrileads, NL) - Unravelling the structure-function of pectin derived polysaccharides
• ESR15: Rob Field (Iceni Diagnostics, UK) - Carbohydrate detection as the basis of new diagnostics for infectious diseases

Are you:

• in possession of a Master degree that fits the research area(s) of the ESR position(s) of your interest, such as a degree in the field of Molecular Life Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Life Sciences/Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, OR will you obtain such a Master degree by September 2019?;
• an excellent student who has obtained high grades during your studies?;
• do you have an inquisitive mind-set, accuracy, focus and are you self-reliant?;
• willing to undertake trans-national mobility to perform research abroad?;
• proficient in the English language (both oral and written)?;
• able to work and collaborate within an international multidisciplinary team? Excellent communication skills and cooperation skills are required;
• interested in Molecular Life Sciences in general and Glyco- & Microbiome Science in particular?;
• fulfilling all the requirements and eligibility criteria?

 then visit our website and apply! The deadline for applications is the 21st of June, 2019.

Requirements for all candidates

In accordance with the very strict EC Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) Sweet Crosstalk ITN rules you must meet the following two eligibility criteria for your ESR/PhD position(s) of interest (so, please do not respond if you are not eligible): 

Eligibility criteria 1: Candidates did not reside or carry out their main activity (e.g. reside, work, studies) in the country of the PhD host institution for more than 12 months during the 3 years immediately prior to project’s application deadline (time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention, compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account).

Eligibility criteria 2: Candidates are in the first four years of their research careers upon the starting date of their appointment to an ESR/PhD position (full-time equivalent research experience, measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree entitling him or her to embark on a doctorate) and have not been awarded a doctoral (PhD) degree yet.

The Sweet Crosstalk Network offers:

• highly competitive & attractive salary and working conditions in accordance with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action regulations for Early Stage Researchers;
• the standard length for the PhD positions is a 3-year-MSCA contract, but for several ESR positions in the Sweet Crosstalk ITN funding for an additional 4th year will be provided by the host institution (see website for details);
• challenging research projects to lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis) at high profile universities, research institutions and companies located around Europe;
• the opportunity to become an expert in the field of Glyco- & Microbiome Science and hold a unique position within the European labour market;
• training in state-of-the-art scientific skills and transferable managerial skills;
• participation in network-wide training activities, courses, workshops and conferences;
• intersectoral secondments to gain work experience and training in several academic institutes and an industrial setting.

Sweet Crosstalk is a multidisciplinary European Innovative Training Network built to address the challenge of understanding, at a molecular level, how glycans are involved at the human mucosa–microbiota interface, and how this correlates with human well-being. The research strategy of the Sweet Crosstalk programme focuses on optimal synergy between Chemistry and Biology. In the network the expertise ranges from chemical synthesis, biochemistry, structural biology to microbiology and cell biology.

Our 7 academic groups are all renowned leaders in the glycoscience and microbiome fields, whereas the complementary 4 companies are specialized in glycan-based diagnostics and prophylactic therapies. Under their guidance, the 15 Early Stage Researchers we are recruiting will become the new generation of innovative scientists with expert knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary glycoscience and human microbiome research. Pursuing a PhD within the Sweet Crosstalk Training Network is an excellent starting point for a career at both top European research institutions as well as the healthcare/biotech job market.