PhD student in Cell Biology of Nutrient Sensing

Working Environment

The European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging (ERIBA) is a research institute within the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). ERIBA aims to discover molecular mechanisms of ageing that can be used as targets to prevent or delay age-related diseases.
Our research teams are working with different model systems and technology platforms and share their knowledge and expertise to accelerate discoveries. ERIBA is part of the UMCG campus in central Groningen, a vibrant, international student town (with over 25,000 students) in the northern Netherlands. Both ERIBA and UMCG are home to various state-of-the-art facilities for use in biomedical research.

Job description

The vision of the research group ‘Cell Biology of Nutrient Sensing’ is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cell growth control, nutrient sensing, and protein secretion; and to identify and functionally characterize novel regulators of these processes, focusing on their putative implementation as new targets for drug development.
Our work combines high-throughput omics approaches (functional genomic screens, advanced proteomic analyses, metabolomics), with state-of-the-art molecular biology, biochemistry, gene-editing, and high-resolution microscopy techniques.
We make use of established human and mouse cell lines, as well as primary and patient-derived cells, to address multiple fundamental biological questions: How is cell growth regulated in normal cells? How does its dysregulation contribute to the development of cancer and other age-related diseases? How do cells respond to nutrient starvation (signaling, metabolism, physiology), and what is the role of specific organelles in this process? How is protein secretion regulated upon starvation and stress, and how do secreted factors influence cellular physiology and cell-cell communication? Can we develop pharmacological or nutritional approaches to target ageing and age-related disease?
We seek highly motivated, ambitious, and talented scientists to join an enthusiastic and collaborative team in an outstanding scientific environment. The working language of the lab is English.

Requirements

The applicant is required to hold a master’s degree/diploma in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related field, and to have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Prior experience in one or more of the following methodologies: cell culture, gene silencing (RNAi), protein (immunoblotting) and RNA analysis (RT-qPCR), CRISPR-mediated gene-editing, confocal microscopy, colocalization analysis, mass-spectrometry, omics data analysis, cell motility/migration assays, and molecular cloning, will be considered an advantage.
Candidates having research experience in TSC/mTOR signaling, lysosome biology, Golgi biology, cellular metabolism, cell-cell communication, protein secretion, or membrane trafficking are encouraged to apply for this position and will be viewed preferentially.

Conditions of employment

The UMCG offers a salary of € 3.108 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 3.939 gross per month in the fourth year (PRO scale). In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the collective labor agreement CAO-UMC. It concerns a full-time appointment (36 hours a week) for a period of four years to be concluded with a PhD examination. After one year, the performance of the candidate will be evaluated to decide whether there is sufficient progress to expect a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the last three years of the project. Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).
Are you interested?
Then please upload your complete application documents in electronic form as a single PDF file, via our online application platform. The position is available immediately.
Your application should contain:
1. A maximum 2-page letter with a personal statement answering the following questions:
a. What makes you the right person for this position (skills and expertise)?
b. What is your biggest scientific accomplishment so far?
c. Which is the most important finding of our lab in your opinion; and which do you think was the key experiment to prove this?
d. What are your research interests and long-term career plans?
2. Your CV (including list of publications, if applicable), and
3. Contact information of 3 referees.
Informal inquiries (but not applications!) are welcome and should be sent to Demetriades[at]umcg.nl. Applications sent via email will not be taken into consideration.
Link
https://eriba.umcg.nl/

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy you may contact:
Constantinos Demetriades
[email protected]

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Please use the the digital application form at the bottom of this page - only these will be processed. You can apply until 15 April 2026. Within half an hour after sending the digital application form you will receive an email- confirmation with further information.
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