Open position: Doctoral Candidate 2

DC2 Open Position: Tracking differences in gastrointestinal metabolism of olive oil biophenols between healthy/normal weight and prediabetic/obese individuals through the in vitro gastrointestinal simulation model GIDM-colon

General information

BioTransform is a multidisciplinary doctoral network aiming to investigate the role of health promoting constituents found in food products (food bioactives – FB), focusing on their metabolism. Even though the role of the gut microbiome is nowadays considered imperative in health homeostasis and disease prevention, the available information regarding gut microbiome-driven FB biotransformations after food intake remains scarce and highly unexplored even regarding common food products. Thus, the goal of BioTransform is to combine state-of-the-art methods, technologies and approaches in a complementary and integrated way to reveal the role of metabolism in the digestive tract, and the impact of FB and their metabolites (biotransformation products) on health and disease. To this end, human pilot studies, in vitro and in silico metabolism simulation methods, gut microbiome sequencing, metabolite profiling and metabolomics will be employed. The BioTransform objectives will be accomplished through 11 complementary doctoral projects from 9 education and research entities, additionally including the participation of 6 associated partners from the private sector and one from academia.

BioTransform will recruit 11 enthusiastic, talented and driven doctoral candidates (DCs) who are highly motivated to become interdisciplinary and competent researchers and professionals in the area of health and food science. All recruited fellows will be enrolled in a PhD degree programme and will be employed full-time in this interdisciplinary and intersectoral network.

What BioTransform will offer

A thorough scientific education in the frame of a doctoral training programme.
A strong involvement in a cutting edge European research project with high international visibility.
DCs will participate in complementary international secondments to other organisations involved in the BioTransform network, and in specific international courses, workshops, conferences and outreach activities.
A prestigious three-year MSCA Fellowship.
A competitive salary including mobility and family allowance.
Depending on the host organisation, and following a positive evaluation, additional funding for a maximum of 12 months may be provided to complete a four-year doctoral degree.
The expected start date is 1/3/26, 1/5/26 or 1/7/26 according to the specific job descriptions.
Each DC will be supervised by an interdisciplinary and intersectoral Supervisory Team.

Eligibility criteria

Supported researchers: Applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their PhD thesis but not yet received their degree are not considered eligible.
Mobility rule: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, study, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
Local requirements: PhD applicants must fulfil the local requirements of the recruiting institutions listed in the specific job descriptions.

General Selection Criteria

You must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent, see specific job descriptions for more information if applicable) in a relevant field for the corresponding vacancy or you will have obtained it by the date of recruitment.
You can demonstrate excellent study results.
You have a relevant scientific background, with the necessary academic skills.
You have strong English language skills, both verbally and in writing.
You have the motivation to successfully obtain a doctoral degree through an individual research project.
You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
You are highly motivated to share your research findings at international research events through engaging poster and oral presentations, as well as publish high-quality papers in international (peer-reviewed) journals.
You are willing to participate in international meetings, trainings and secondments, as international mobility is a key concept for MSCA Doctoral Networks fellows.
Additional institutional selection criteria may apply. If applicable, these can be found in the specific job descriptions.

Application Procedure

You can apply for different positions simultaneously.
All applications must be submitted through the online job application platform on the BioTransform website https://biotransform-msca.eu/. Relevant deadlines are mentioned in the specific job descriptions. Click on the ‘Submit your application’ button, complete the online application form and be sure to include a motivation letter, a recent CV (including a transcript of study results), and the contact information of two reference contact persons.
In some cases it is required to also submit your application through the hosting institute’s website. This will be clearly mentioned in the specific job description if applicable. In these cases you must therefore submit your application twice, at two different websites, for it to be valid.
The candidates will be pre-selected by the recruiting host institution based on their local HR processes. Interviews with the pre-selected candidates will be held by web conferencing or in person.
BioTransform will ensure fair and transparent selection of the DCs in line with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers and best practices applicable to the fellows (e.g. ethics, professionalism, use of results) and host institutions (e.g. non-discrimination, working conditions). The network will aim for a gender-balanced and diverse group of DCs.

Job description

DC2: Tracking differences in gastrointestinal metabolism of olive oil biophenols between healthy/normal weight and prediabetic/obese individuals through the in vitro gastrointestinal simulation model GIDM-colon

Host institution: Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis – Pharmaceutical Technology (NatuRAPT), University of Antwerp, Belgium

Supervisor: Prof. Nina Hermans

Co-Supervisors: Prof. Paul Cotter, Food Biosciences Department, Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), Cork, Ireland (Academic); Dr. Dimitrios Michailidis, PharmaGnose Biotechnologies, Athens, Greece (Industrial)

Project description

BioTransform is a multidisciplinary doctoral network aiming to investigate the role of health promoting constituents found in food products (food bioactives – FB), focusing on their metabolism. FB coexist with nutrients, but they are biologically active compounds present in our diet and characterised by great structural variability and biological properties. Despite the imperative role of gut microbiota in health maintenance and disease prevention, the available information regarding FB metabolism remains scarce and the biotransformation occurring in the human organism highly unexplored. Thus, the goal of BioTransform is to combine state-of-the-art methods, technologies and approaches in a complementary and integrated way to reveal the impact of FB and their metabolites (biotransformation products) on health and disease. To this end, human pilot studies, in vitro and in silico metabolism simulation methods, gut microbiota sequencing, metabolite profiling and metabolomics will be employed. Metabolites will be biologically profiled through biochemical and cell-based assays. In BioTransform, the metabolism of olive and bilberry FB (secoiridoids, phenols and polyphenols), which are European flagship food products with proven activity in metabolism-related pathologies, will be systematically investigated.

Your tasks

You will thoroughly research biotransformation pathways of olive biophenols in an in vitro gastro-intestinal simulation model (GIDM-colon) by UPLC-HRMS/MS profiling. Faecal samples of healthy and prediabetic/obese volunteers, both in Central- and South-European populations, obtained in parallel clinical studies will serve as proxy for the population differences in gut microbiome and may generate discriminating metabolomes with possible impact on bioactivity.

Host laboratory

The University of Antwerp (UAntwerp) is the third-largest university in Flanders (Belgium) with about 21,000 students and 6,400 staff members. Founded in 2003, after the merger of three smaller universities, it is a young university now organised into nine faculties and 15 Centres of Excellence. UAntwerp is characterised by its high standards in education, internationally competitive research and entrepreneurial approach. UAntwerp was awarded the “Human Resources Excellence in Research” label in 2013. The Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis – Pharmaceutical Technology (NatuRAPT) research group has unique expertise in the areas of medicinal plants, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical analysis. It has managed over 70 projects on the isolation and identification of biologically active substances from medicinal plants and food supplements, the development and validation of analytical methods, and the evaluation of the health effects of herbal medicinal products and functional foods.

Secondments: This project is carried out in strong collaboration with the following groups, and 2 month visits to their laboratories are expected during the project. A willingness to travel and spend time abroad is therefore essential:

Food Biosciences Department, Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), Cork, Ireland
Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece
PharmaGnose Biotechnologies, Athens, Greece

Specific eligibility conditions and selection criteria

Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Food Sciences, Biochemistry or related field.
You can demonstrate excellent study results
Experience with chromatography and spectroscopy is a plus.
You have excellent communication and writing skills in (academic) English
You are a team-player; you are flexible and disciplined

Enquiries

For general information about the BioTransform Doctoral Network visit the project website https://biotransform-msca.eu/. For additional information on this project please contact Prof. Nina Hermans (nina.hermans@uantwerpen.be)

Required documents

Motivation letter (limit of 2,500 characters) explaining why you wish to be considered for the fellowship and which qualities and experience you will bring to the role. Also mention from which date onwards you are available.
A recent CV, including a transcript of study results.
Contact information of two reference contact persons.

A limited number of applicants will be invited for an online interview (expected in the 3^rd or 4^th week of February 2026).