Glaucoma is the most common age-related neurodegenerative eye disease in Western society and one of the four major eye diseases causing blindness. Unfortunately, current treatments can only slow the deterioration but do not halt or reverse the process. Despite the efforts of the early detection and treatment of the disease, currently, approximately 15% of all glaucoma patients in the EU still become bilaterally blind.

Our European MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE Doctoral Network (DN) EGRET-AAA ('European Glaucoma REsearch Training program for Accelerating the Approach to Advanced Glaucoma') will focus specifically on finding solutions for those patients suffering from advanced glaucoma. We aim to bring revolutionary therapies for protecting and restoring vision in patients with advanced glaucoma a significant step closer to clinical deployment.

Are you, like us, fascinated by the complex genetics, molecular mechanisms, and pathobiology of the visual system, by retinal physiology or clinical research with advanced techniques for retinal imaging and function testing, or by visual neuroscience and brain-imaging? Do you consider it important to help patients with advanced glaucoma? Do you have an inquisitive mind, and are you looking for a PhD position embedded in an international doctoral network in which you can develop your research, clinical, and entrepreneurial skills? Then consider applying within EGRET-AAA for one of our 15 3-year Joint-Doctorate positions in academia, medical institutes, and high-tech companies in the Netherlands, Germany, France, or Norway.

All 15 positions and projects are shortlisted below, more details on each of the positions and information about the Joint Doctorate training program can be found on our website www.egret-aaa.eu

3 Challenges = 15 projects = 15 positions

Challenge 1: We need new experimental approaches for restoring vision in advanced glaucoma. In 4 PhD projects you can work on furthering gene and stem cell-based treatment for advanced glaucoma using human retinal organoids.
- Project 1: Experimental Regenerative Medicine: Stem Cell-derived Ganglion Cell Replacement Therapy in Glaucoma Models
Amsterdam UMC/Amsterdam University, NL in collaboration with Vision Institute/Sorbonne University, Paris, FR
- Project 2: Functional Assessment of Glaucoma Candidate Disease Genes using Genetically Modified Retinal Organoids
Amsterdam UMC/Amsterdam University, NL in collaboration with Vision Institute/Sorbonne University, Paris, FR
- Project 3: Retinal axon pathfinding: cellular events controlled by subcellular compartment-restricted second messengers
Vision Institute/Sorbonne University, Paris, FR in collaboration with Amsterdam UMC/Amsterdam University, NL
- Project 4: Intrinsic mechanisms that drive axon guidance at the optic chiasm
Vision Institute/Sorbonne University, Paris, FR in collaboration with Amsterdam UMC/Amsterdam University, NL

Challenge 2: We need ways to protect remaining or newly established connections between the eye and the brain sufficiently. In 5 PhD positions, you can work on developing new methods to offer remaining and new ganglion cells a healthy environment in terms of oxygen delivery and neuroprotection.
- Project 5: From GWAS to neuroprotective pathways
University of Oldenburg, DE, in collaboration with Amsterdam UMC/Amsterdam University, NL
- Project 6: Mechanisms of Retinal ganglion cells/glial cells uncoupling by glaucoma-associated stress and their association with neuronal cell death
Vision Institute/Sorbonne University, Paris, FR in collaboration with the University of Groningen, NL
- Project 7: The role of retinal Mononuclear Phagocytes and Macroglia cells in retinal ischemia
Vision Institute/Sorbonne University, Paris, FR in collaboration with European Research Institute Biology of Aging of the University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL
- Project 8: Multimodal assessment of retinal function in end-stage glaucoma
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, DE in collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL
- Project 9: Multimodal imaging of retinal perfusion
IMEDOS Health GmbH/Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, DE in collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL

Challenge 3: We need new and accurate diagnostic tools to assess patients with advanced glaucoma. In 6 PhD positions, you can work on developing new techniques to assess changes in retinal and visual pathway structure and function in advanced glaucoma.
- Project 10: Eye movement-based evaluation of visual function in advanced glaucoma
BulbiTech, Trondheim, NO in collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL
- Project 11: Functional assessment in advanced glaucoma
University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL in collaboration with Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, DE
- Project 12: OCT in advanced glaucoma: analysis of retinal tissue properties using deep learning
University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL in collaboration with Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, DE
- Project 13: Structural MRI-based assessment of the visual pathways in late-stage glaucoma
University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL in collaboration with Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, DE
- Project 14: fMRI-based assessment of connectivity in the visual cortex in advanced glaucoma
University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL in collaboration with Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, DE
- Project 15: Cortical plasticity in advanced glaucoma with 7T fMRI
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, DE in collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, NL

The network
EGRET-AAA has brought together top European expertise and resources in molecular biology, ophthalmology, visual neuroscience, and technology from 15 European labs and companies in the field of vision science and technology. An overview of the participating labs and their projects can be found at www.egret-aaa.eu. This network has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Doctoral Networks under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101072435.
Curious to see and hear more about what it means to be part of a European Training Network? Check out these two short movies about our previous ones NextGenVis and EGRET+.

Benefits
By joining the EGRET-AAA network, you will become the pivotal, next generation of experts who can advance the development of genetic and stem-cell therapies and the associated technologies to target glaucoma. You will gain a unique, well-balanced, and individually tailored portfolio of skills and competencies, ensuring they will be ready to solve intersectoral and interdisciplinary challenges in a range of environments in healthcare, industry, and academia. On completing the network training (see above) you will be ready to take up leading positions to benefit patients, health care, industry, and science.

A unique, complete, and international training program
You will follow EGRET-AAA’s multidisciplinary 3-year PhD training consisting of several high-level training courses and workshops throughout Europe. Besides working at your primary employer, you will carry out secondments at other academic and technology partners. With that, you will gain experience working in industrial, health care, and academic environments, and have the opportunity to develop both your hard skills (research & technology) and soft skills (e.g., academic, entrepreneurial, working with people). In addition to this network training, you will gain a PhD awarded by two academic partners, via a bilateral joint doctorate agreement.

What does it mean to do a joint doctorate?
Joint Doctorates provide a highly integrated type of international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in doctoral training leading to a joint doctoral degree awarded by the participating institutions. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in a joint programme and be jointly supervised.

1. Have a deep interest in vision (complex genetics, molecular mechanisms, pathobiology of the visual system, retinal physiology, clinical research with advanced techniques for retinal imaging and function testing, visual neuroscience and brain imaging)
2. Be passionate about doing research and have or be willing to develop the skills to communicate this passion with other scientists and the general public.
3. Have relevant skills and experiences, and a strong interest in both theoretical and applied science.
4. Welcome the opportunity to conduct research abroad and to work within an international and multidisciplinary team.
5. Hold an MSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (which can be, but is not limited to biology, biomedical engineering, genetics, medicine, neuroscience, (bio)physics).
6. Be an eligible candidate according to the eligibility conditions indicated below.
Details on and the requirements for the specific projects can be found on the research page of our website: www.egret-aaa.eu.

Eligibility conditions
EGRET-AAA is supported by a European MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE which requires transnational mobility. Therefore, to be eligible for a PhD position, you cannot have resided or carried out your main activity in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months. Furthermore, we can only recruit researchers who are not already in the possession of a doctoral degree at the date of appointment. Please keep this in mind when applying.

PhD projects will start between July and October 2023, with some flexibility to negotiate the exact starting date with the relevant supervisor. All recruiting partners honor EU and national employment laws about researcher recruitment and ensure that you will have the same rights, health, and safety standards as local researchers.

How to apply
If you are interested in one of our PhD positions, do 1) visit our website and read the information on our application procedures carefully, and 2) apply via our project page on Workable. Deadline: February 28th, 2023. General questions can be directed to info@egret-aaa.eu.