Exciting Doctoral Opportunities in Water Biology: MSCA Consortium Water PhD Positions

Location: Linz, Austria
Application Deadline: June 14, 2025 (Europe/Vienna)
Field: Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences, and more

About the MSCA Consortium Water Research Network

The MSCA Consortium Water invites highly motivated doctoral candidates to join cutting-edge research on the role of water in biological systems. This interdisciplinary program spans membrane transport, structural biology, biophysics, synthetic chemistry, and biomedical applications, providing an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact in molecular life sciences.

What We Offer

• Fully Funded PhD Positions across 16 research projects in biological water science.

• Interdisciplinary Research in areas such as membrane transport, biophysics, synthetic chemistry, biomedical sciences, and structural biology.

• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and collaborations with leading international researchers.

Research Projects Available

1. Water Transport & Solute Interaction (Linz, Austria)
   Investigating water flux inhibition or facilitation in transporters like SGLT1/SGLT2.

2. Water in Membrane Insertion (Linz, Austria)
   Exploring water’s role in reducing the energetic costs of protein insertion into membranes.

3. Membrane Fusion Mechanisms (Saarbrücken, Germany)
   Simulating fusion between membranes and nanoparticles, focusing on water’s role in fusion facilitation.

4. Permittivity in Protein Channels (Prague, Czech Republic)
   Developing tools to measure water permittivity inside protein channels using fluorescence.

5. Artificial Water Channels (Montpellier, France)
   Creating synthetic water channels for biomimetic applications in medicine.

6. Protecting Salivary Glands in Radiotherapy (Radeberg, Germany)
   Developing strategies to block or protect water channels during radioligand therapy.

7. 3D-Bioprinted Salivary Gland Model (Brussels, Belgium)
   Building a 3D model to study water channel deregulation in Sjögren’s syndrome.

8. Proton Channel Function of STING (Biberach, Germany)
   Analyzing STING protein’s proton channel function and ligand interaction.

9. Water in Drug Binding (Bucharest, Romania)
   Investigating water-mediated drug binding in receptors and transporters.

10. Mitochondrial Water Dynamics (Vienna, Austria)
    Studying how confined water influences transport in mitochondrial carriers.

(Complete list of projects and descriptions available in the original post.)

Eligibility Criteria

• Required Education: Master’s degree or equivalent in biophysics, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, pharmacy, biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, or related fields.

• Application Documents:

  • Motivation letter

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)

  • Contact details of two referees for recommendation letters

  • Copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, including grades

  • Any available publications or conference contributions

How to Apply

• Submit your application via the online procedure on the MSCA Consortium Water website.

• Specify the project code (DC1–DC13 or ADC1–ADC3) you are applying for in your submission.

Apply Now: MSCA Consortium Water PhD Application

Why Join Us?

• Fully funded PhD positions across Europe.

• Collaborative research network with leading institutions and researchers.

• Opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries in water’s role in biological systems.

Application Deadline: June 14, 2025 (Europe/Vienna)