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DC6 Open Position: Exploration of metabolism pathways and bioactives’ metabolites from bilberries by using UPLC-HRMS approaches

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

DC6: Exploration of metabolism pathways and bioactives’ metabolites from bilberries by using UPLC-HRMS approaches

Host institution: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacognosy, University of Graz, Austria

Supervisor: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Eva Pferschy-Wenzig

Co-Supervisors: Dr. Gints Smits, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Riga, Latvia (Academic); Mrs. Anna Ramata-Stunda, Alternative Plants, Riga, Latvia (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

The tasks of this project part comprise the UHPLC-HRMS/MS-based metabolite profiling of a bilberry-based food supplement that will be applied in the human pilot studies performed at Medical University of Graz and in Athens. Furthermore, the biosamples (plasma, urine, faeces) taken in the course of these studies will be analysed by targeted and untargeted UHPLC-HRMS/MS. Finally, the analytical data are statistically evaluated to discover metabolites formed by gut microbial and/or human biotransformation that are potentially relevant for pharmacological activity.

Host laboratory

University of Graz (UGraz) founded in 1585 is Austria’s second oldest university and one of the largest in the country. Numerous outstanding scientists, including six Nobel Prize winners, have taught and researched here. With 30,000 students and 4,700 employees, it makes a decisive contribution to the vibrant life of the Styrian capital. The university is organised into six faculties and is strengthening its specialist research areas with five Fields of Excellence, one being “Biohealth”. Within the cooperative research initiative BioTechMed-Graz, UGraz is collaborating with Graz University of Technology and Medical University of Graz. At the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences – Pharmagnosy, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Eva Maria Pferschy-Wenzig and Prof. Dr. Rudolf Bauer have long standing experience in the field of UHPLC/HRMS-MS metabolomics, on the interaction of natural products with human gut microbiome, as well as on bioactive plant constituents.

Secondments This project is carried out in strong collaboration with the institutions listed below. 2-month visits to their laboratories are scheduled during the project. A willingness to travel and spend time abroad is therefore essential:

  • Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Riga, Latvia
  • Alternative Plants, Riga, Latvia
  • Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London (ICL), United Kingdom

Specific eligibility conditions and selection criteria

  • Master’s degree in pharmacy, analytical chemistry or related field.
  • Experience in chromatography, mass spectrometry, metabolomics and statistical data analysis is highly desirable
  • English language skills (B1; degree certificate is required for enrolment in the Pharmacy doctoral program at UGraz)

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 Dr. Eva Pferschy-Wenzig (eva-maria.wenzig@uni-graz.at)

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.
  • A certificate for English B1. If, at the time of application, candidates should not be yet in possession of this certificate, they need to submit it before enrolment in the local doctoral program.
  • Contact information of two reference contact persons.

A limited number of applicants will be invited for an interview.

The application window is open from 1/10/2025 until 30/11/2026.
The expected starting date is 1/3/2026.
Submit your application