Job description
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Qualifications
What you will do
_____________________________________________________________
Engineer ion-selective biological nanopores selective for individual ions (e.g. Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻), aided by computational design in collaboration with partner groups.
Develop gated, ligand-responsive channels by reconstituting cellular receptors or introducing binding elements that switch nanopore conductance in response to specific molecules.
Build a reproducible platform integrating nanopores and ion channels into synthetic membranes (block copolymers and lipids) supported on arrays of solid-state wells — aiming at arrays of hundreds to thousands of membranes mimicking the properties of excitable cells.
Collaborate closely with fellow Doctoral Candidates across the network on membrane integration, solid-state device fabrication and computational modelling.
Complete two research secondments abroad: at CSIC/IMSE-CNM (Seville, Spain) to engage with neuromorphic computing and device modelling, and at Inserm/Institut de Neurosciences (Marseille, France) to test the resulting device on neuroscience-inspired problems.
Publish your findings in peer-reviewed journals and present your work at international conferences and MORPHEOS network events.
What we are looking for
_____________________________________________________________
A Master's degree (or equivalent, to be completed before the start date) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Bionanotechnology, or a related field.
A strong interest in protein/membrane biochemistry and interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology, chemistry and nanotechnology; prior experience with protein expression/purification, membrane proteins or single-molecule techniques is an advantage but not required.
Willingness to work in a highly interdisciplinary, international network and to travel for secondments and network events.
Good communication skills in English (written and spoken), and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Curiosity, creativity and a proactive, critical approach to research.
Eligibility (MSCA Doctoral Network rules)
_____________________________________________________________
This position is funded under Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks and subject to standard MSCA eligibility criteria for Doctoral Candidates:
At the recruitment date, you must not have already been awarded a doctoral degree.
Mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
You may be of any nationality.
Organisation
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 36,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global center of knowledge.
Conditions of employment
What we offer
_____________________________________________________________
A fully-funded, 4-year PhD position, with the first 36 months funded through the MSCA Doctoral Network (living, mobility and, where applicable, family allowances paid according to official Horizon Europe MSCA rates) and the 4th year funded by the University of Groningen.
Membership in an ambitious, highly interdisciplinary European training network of 15 Doctoral Candidates, with dedicated courses, workshops and symposia.
Two fully-funded international research secondments (Spain and France).
Access to state-of-the-art molecular biology, protein engineering/purification and single-molecule nanopore facilities at the Maglia lab, plus structural biology (cryo-EM, crystallography) infrastructure at RUG.
Supervision by Prof. Giovanni Maglia and close collaboration with leading academic and industrial partners across the MORPHEOS consortium.
A stimulating, inclusive and international research environment in Groningen, the Netherlands.
How to apply
_____________________________________________________________
Please submit your application including (1) a motivation letter, (2) a full CV, (3) a copy of your MSc (or BSc, if not yet completed) transcripts, and (4) the contact details of two references to chembio@rug.nl.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and, for the strongest candidates, a visit to the Maglia lab in Groningen. The position has a planned start date of January 2027.
For informal enquiries about the project,
please contact Prof. Giovanni Maglia (chembio@rug.nl).
PhD
Maglia Lab, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen
Part of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network MORPHEOS • Start: January 2027 • Duration: 36 months (3-year MSCA contract; 4th year of PhD completion supported by RUG)
About MORPHEOS
_____________________________________________________________
MORPHEOS (“neuroMORPHic fluidic circuits Enabled by artificial iOn channelS”) is a Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network bringing together 9 leading academic institutions and 2 high-tech companies across 6 European countries to develop the next generation of hybrid nanopore technology for neuromorphic (‘brain-inspired’) computing. The network will train 15 Doctoral Candidates in a unique combination of nanofabrication, nanofluidics, ion-channel biology, molecular simulation and neuromorphic engineering, working towards the first fluidic neuromorphic circuit built from artificial ion channels.
Doctoral Candidates in MORPHEOS benefit from a structured, cross-institutional training programme, international secondments at partner labs and companies, dedicated transferable-skills and entrepreneurship training, and membership in a highly interdisciplinary European research community.
The position in Groningen
_____________________________________________________________
The University of Groningen (RUG) is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the group of Prof. Giovanni Maglia at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), Department of Chemical Biology, starting in January 2027. The Maglia lab is a world-leading group in biological nanopore engineering and single-molecule analysis, with expertise spanning nanopore electro-osmotic transport, nanopore enzymology and nanopore-based protein/peptide sequencing.
Your project focuses on developing biological nanopores and ion channels with tailored ion selectivity and memristive (switch-like, history-dependent) behaviour, and on embedding them, reproducibly and at scale, into arrays of solid-state supported membranes – the biological ‘front end’ of the MORPHEOS neuromorphic device.
Qualifications
What you will do
_____________________________________________________________
Engineer ion-selective biological nanopores selective for individual ions (e.g. Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻), aided by computational design in collaboration with partner groups.
Develop gated, ligand-responsive channels by reconstituting cellular receptors or introducing binding elements that switch nanopore conductance in response to specific molecules.
Build a reproducible platform integrating nanopores and ion channels into synthetic membranes (block copolymers and lipids) supported on arrays of solid-state wells — aiming at arrays of hundreds to thousands of membranes mimicking the properties of excitable cells.
Collaborate closely with fellow Doctoral Candidates across the network on membrane integration, solid-state device fabrication and computational modelling.
Complete two research secondments abroad: at CSIC/IMSE-CNM (Seville, Spain) to engage with neuromorphic computing and device modelling, and at Inserm/Institut de Neurosciences (Marseille, France) to test the resulting device on neuroscience-inspired problems.
Publish your findings in peer-reviewed journals and present your work at international conferences and MORPHEOS network events.
What we are looking for
_____________________________________________________________
A Master's degree (or equivalent, to be completed before the start date) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Bionanotechnology, or a related field.
A strong interest in protein/membrane biochemistry and interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology, chemistry and nanotechnology; prior experience with protein expression/purification, membrane proteins or single-molecule techniques is an advantage but not required.
Willingness to work in a highly interdisciplinary, international network and to travel for secondments and network events.
Good communication skills in English (written and spoken), and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Curiosity, creativity and a proactive, critical approach to research.
Eligibility (MSCA Doctoral Network rules)
_____________________________________________________________
This position is funded under Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks and subject to standard MSCA eligibility criteria for Doctoral Candidates:
At the recruitment date, you must not have already been awarded a doctoral degree.
Mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
You may be of any nationality.
Conditions of employment
What we offer
_____________________________________________________________
A fully-funded, 4-year PhD position, with the first 36 months funded through the MSCA Doctoral Network (living, mobility and, where applicable, family allowances paid according to official Horizon Europe MSCA rates) and the 4th year funded by the University of Groningen.
Membership in an ambitious, highly interdisciplinary European training network of 15 Doctoral Candidates, with dedicated courses, workshops and symposia.
Two fully-funded international research secondments (Spain and France).
Access to state-of-the-art molecular biology, protein engineering/purification and single-molecule nanopore facilities at the Maglia lab, plus structural biology (cryo-EM, crystallography) infrastructure at RUG.
Supervision by Prof. Giovanni Maglia and close collaboration with leading academic and industrial partners across the MORPHEOS consortium.
A stimulating, inclusive and international research environment in Groningen, the Netherlands.
How to apply
_____________________________________________________________
Please submit your application including (1) a motivation letter, (2) a full CV, (3) a copy of your MSc (or BSc, if not yet completed) transcripts, and (4) the contact details of two references to chembio@rug.nl.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and, for the strongest candidates, a visit to the Maglia lab in Groningen. The position has a planned start date of January 2027.
For informal enquiries about the project,
please contact Prof. Giovanni Maglia (chembio@rug.nl).
Organisation
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 36,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global center of knowledge.