UPsYDe Doctoral Network Open Positions
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, starting September, 2026
Deadline for application: March 10th 2026
Understanding and Postponing Yeast Cell Death (UPsYDe) to improve production is a doctoral network of 13 PhD candidates funded by Horizon Europe: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
UPsYDe consists of seven host institutes (Wageningen Universiteit, Universidade do Minho, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology, Imperial College London, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca and Chalmers Tekniska Högskola) together with fifteen associated partners, ranging from start-up to large biotechnology companies and renowned research institutes aims to understand how yeast cells die under industrial process conditions and use this knowledge to improve biomanufacturing.
Different yeast species play a vital role in industrial biotechnology for the sustainable production of a wide range of products, for example ethanol as a biofuel or protein ingredients for alternatives to animal-based products. However, also the lifespan of these yeast cells is finite and their death negatively impacts processes: for example with regards to process duration or product quality. Therefore we developed an approach that integrates the disciplines of fundamental cell and molecular biology, systems and synthetic biology with bioprocess and metabolic engineering to improve both our understanding of these cell death processes as well as the survival and performance of different yeast species in industrial bioprocesses.
Each of 13 doctoral projects will focus on a different aspect, see more detailed descriptions below, but in strong synergy with the other projects. As such, each PhD will receive a strongly interdisciplinary training alongside performing exciting research. This includes secondments at at least two other partners in the consortium.
To be eligible for the positions, both host-institute specific (see below) and general conditions apply. These general conditions include:
- Not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment;
- Comply with the mobility rule: no residence or main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months before their recruitment date), this includes the country of the institution for which the main activity was performed.
UMINHO – PhD position 2
Title: Elucidating the Relationship Between Process Conditions, Cellular Aging, and Cellular Productivity
Yeast-based expression systems underpin a large fraction of modern biopharmaceutical manufacturing, enabling the scalable production of vaccines, hormones, enzymes, and complex recombinant proteins with proven safety and regulatory acceptance. Their combination of eukaryotic cellular machinery, genetic accessibility, and robustness in large-scale cultivation makes yeasts particularly attractive production hosts. Nevertheless, sustained productivity in industrial cultures is frequently limited by progressive cellular ageing, loss of viability, and the activation of regulated cell death pathways, phenomena that are strongly shaped by bioprocess conditions yet remain insufficiently understood in an integrated manner.
This PhD project seeks to clarify how bioprocess environments influence cellular ageing, survival, regulated cell death, and productivity in industrially relevant yeast species. By establishing and validating experimental tools to monitor ageing-associated features and cell death modes under realistic operating conditions, the project will generate quantitative knowledge of how process parameters and product-forming pathways affect cellular fate. These experimental data will be coupled with mathematical modelling to predict ageing dynamics, population heterogeneity, and performance in batch, fed-batch, and continuous cultures. Using lactic acid production as an industrial case study, the project will demonstrate how metabolic burden impacts agieng, productivity, and survival, ultimately supporting the rational development of more robust and sustainable yeast-based bioprocesses.
Research Environment
The Doctoral Candidate will be hosted at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, located in Braga, Portugal—a dynamic research hub recognized for excellence in biomedical and biotechnological research. The position offers access to state-of-the-art laboratories, advanced analytical platforms, and a vibrant, collaborative scientific community.
The research will be conducted under the supervision of Prof. Paula Ludovico, an internationally recognized expert in yeast cell death and stress biology, within a strongly interdisciplinary and internationally networked environment. As part of the MSCA Doctoral Network, the candidate will undertake planned secondments at leading academic and industrial partner institutions, gaining hands-on experience with complementary methodologies, exposure to industrial bioprocesses, and valuable international and intersectoral training. This combination of scientific excellence, mobility, and professional development provides an outstanding platform for building a competitive research career.
Planned secondments:
– At Wageningen Universiteit (WU-BPE), (5 months), Netherlands
– At Syconium Lactic Acid GmbH, (3 months) Viena, Austria
Your qualities
We seek a highly motivated and talented Doctoral Candidate with a strong interest in regulated cell death, cellular aging, and microbial population dynamics in bioprocess environments. The successful candidate will be eager to develop an independent research profile while working within an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral MSCA Doctoral Network.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Eligibility to comply with MSCA mobility rules and to obtain EU visas.
- A Master’s degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Biochemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- A solid foundation in yeast biology; prior experience with Saccharomyces cerevisiae physiology, genetics, and/or cell death mechanisms is considered an advantage.
- Demonstrated practical experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques.
- Familiarity with microfluidics, high-throughput screening, or lab-on-a-chip technologies is an asset, but not mandatory.
- Strong organisational skills and a high standard of research documentation and data management.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a diverse, interdisciplinary, and international research environment.
- Good communication skills, including scientific writing and presentation in English.
We offer you
- Fully funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral stipend.
- The annual gross salary is € 27641,74 (including living and mobility allowances) corresponding to full-time in the category of Research Assistant Level i5 and Position 1. This is based on a full-time working week and activities are agreed upon from time to time with the supervisor.
- Exposure to industry and academia, preparing you for careers in biotech, sustainable innovation, and research leadership.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in PhD in Biomedicine and Health Sciences (PhDBCS). In the first year, the program includes a mandatory curricular unit dedicated to designing the PhD project (15 ECTS) and three optional curricular units (15 ECTS total). The remaining 210 ECTS are dedicated to the thesis, to be carried out during the four years of the study plan. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see https://www.med.uminho.pt/en/Post-Graduation/PhDBCS.
How to Apply
e-mail Prof. Paula Ludovico (pludovico@med.uminho.pt) your updated CV in the CienciaVitae format, transcript(s), motivation letter and a copy of the Academic Degree Certificate/Diploma – obligatorily with the respective proof of recognition of the academic degree in Portugal, in case of a degree awarded by a foreign Higher Education institution –, indicating in the title of the email [UPsYDe PhD application – NAME].
Deadline for application is March 10th 2026 and interviews will be scheduled shortly after.
