The Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL) at Leiden University, under the Dutch National Growth Fund Program Cellular Agriculture (CAN), is seeking applications for a 4-year fully funded Ph.D. position in Fungal Biology and Industrial Biotechnology.
Project Focus & Circular Bioeconomy Scope
Transforming agricultural residues into high-value protein production platforms is central to building a sustainable bioeconomy. This doctoral project focuses on developing non-model filamentous fungi into next-generation expression hosts for bio-based animal protein production using grass-based feedstocks. Key research areas include:
- Applying CRISPR-Cas genome editing and synthetic biology tools to engineer novel fungal chassis strains.
- Optimizing heterologous protein secretion pathways, fermentation kinetics, and nutrient conversion efficiency.
- Collaborating within an interdisciplinary consortium including HAN BioCentre, Avans University, and industrial partners.
Stipend & Package
- Salary: Gross monthly salary starting at €2,770 in Year 1, increasing to €3,539 per month in Year 4 (Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities).
- Benefits: 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, full healthcare and pension package.
- Duration: 4 Years full-time.
- Location: Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.
Candidate Profile
- Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Fungal Biology, Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology, Synthetic Biology, or related fields.
- Hands-on experience with fungal genetic transformation, molecular cloning, or bioprocess engineering.
- Excellent communication skills and eagerness to work at the interface of academic research and commercial application.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the Leiden University jobs portal. Upload a letter of motivation, detailed CV, and contact information for two academic references.