PhD fellowship Marie Curie in Evolutionary Hologenomics: understanding the

at  Kbenhavns Universitet

Globe Institute
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen
Within the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA), University of Copenhagen is offering one PhD fellowship for a Doctoral Candidate (DC), starting May 1, 2025.
The position is for 36 months and is funded by Horizon Europe, within the Hologen MSCA Doctoral Network. HoloGen is a doctoral network aimed at developing novel computational and experimental tools for the analysis of hologenomics datasets, understanding fundamentals in the hologenomics field, and applying the hologenomic framework for improving human health and production biology systems.
More information may be found on the Hologen home page: www.hologen-network.eu.
The project aims to achieve breakthroughs by:
1. Unveiling new host-microbiota interactions.
2. Developing new technological tools for the study of host-microbiota interactions.
3. Applying a one-health approach to assess the relevance of host-microbiota interactions.
Hologen will deliver a training program to 11 Doctoral Candidates that equips them with all capabilities to become leaders of tomorrow’s R&I in Europe.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The successful applicant will join a multidisciplinary EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie International PhD training network. This doctoral position is based at the Globe Institute, at University of Copenhagen (UCPH).
This PhD project will investigate the role of intestinal microorganisms in the evolutionary processes of dietary diversification in vertebrates. By combining worldwide field sampling, leveraging the network of the Earth Hologenome Initiative (www.earthhologenome.org), and captivity experimentation, the student will explore the mechanisms through which intestinal microbes can facilitate or hamper dietary switches, such as transitioning from carnivory to herbivory. The research will include data generation using the high-throughput automation pipelines available at the Globe Institute’s molecular laboratory, genomic and metagenomic bioinformatic analyses using the local high-performance computation cluster Mjolnir, and statistical analyses using R environment.
The PhD Fellow will also need to carry out field work and captivity experimentation with lizards in Spain. In consequence, the project will require spending long periods of time outside Denmark.
The Doctoral Candidate will be supervised by Associate Professor Antton Alberdi. The Alberdi Lab (www.alberdilab.dk) is a dynamic and multidisciplinary group focused on exploring animal-microbiota interactions within ecological, evolutionary, and applied frameworks. Their investigations employ a diverse set of advanced techniques, such as multi-omics analysis, laser microdissection, and gut-on-a-chip models. The group serves as the coordinator for the H2020 RIA project 3D’omics, as well as the founders and coordinators of the Earth Hologenome Initiative.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences are to:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project.
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

As an applicant you must have:

• Qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree.
• Fluency in English and excellent communication skills.

Applicants will also be required to meet the European Commission’s MSCA Doctoral Network eligibility criteria, notably:

• Mobility Rule - Applicants can be of any nationality and must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the start of their employment at UCPH. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.
• Doctoral Candidate requirement – the applicant must not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the first day of the employment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet been awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.

Please note that you will only be considered for the position if you fulfil both above eligibility criteria.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Documented experience using R or python.
• Documented experience in working with wildlife.
• Be comfortable with handling animals.
• Be willing to spend long periods of time in Spain.

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project.
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project