Doctoral Candidate (PhD student position) / DC3 for MSCA Doctoral Network “Brain Health in Menopausal Women (MenoBrain)” (m/f/d)

The Department of Neurology at Jena University Hospital offers a PhD position for a doctoral candidate (DC)/MSCA fellow for the project: Transcriptional and Protein Profiling of Gut Microbiome Bacteria-Derived Extracellular Vesicles (BEV). The position is part of the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network MenoBrain “Brain Health in Menopausal Women” with full-time employment for a duration of 3 years, starting in February 2026. Objective of the project: During menopause, hormonal changes may alter communication along the gut–brain axis, potentially affecting memory and cognition. One possible mediator of this communication are bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) – tiny packages released by gut bacteria that can travel through the body and reach the brain, carrying RNA, proteins and metabolites. This project will investigate whether BEVs differ between postmenopausal women with high and low cognitive performance, and how their molecular composition can be linked to specific bacterial species and brain-related pathways. Follow-up studies in mouse models and cell culture will be applied to test specific mechanisms of BEV–brain interaction.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities / Methods :

• Isolation: BEVs will be purified from stool samples by ultracentrifugation. 
• Molecular profiling: RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry will characterize transcriptomic and proteomic content. 
• Models: Cell culture and mouse studies will test selected BEV–brain pathways. 
• Data analysis: Bioinformatics and statistical tools will integrate molecular data with existing clinical and lifestyle information.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• We expect a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Health and/or Life Sciences, Molecular Medicine, or related fields. 
• Required methodological skills include a background in molecular biology. 
• Basic knowledge in protein analysis, bioinformatics, and cell culture is desirable. 
• Experience with experimental models and a FELASA certificate (animal experimentation) would be an advantage. 
• Very good English skills are required.  
• MSCA eligibility (must-have): At the time of recruitment, candidates must be in the first four years of their research career, must not hold a doctoral degree, and must not have resided in Germany or carried out their main activity (work or study) there for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately prior to the recruitment date.

We offer you even more:

• We offer an international research environment with access to modern laboratories, state-of-the-art technologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration within a European Doctoral Network. The PhD student will benefit from structured training, international secondments, and transferable skills courses.  
• Salary and allowances are provided according to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funding rules, including mobility and, if applicable, family allowances. Applications (single PDF) should include a motivation letter, CV (with publications if available), transcripts and degree certificates (with grades), and contact details of two referees. 
• Please indicate the DC position applied for and send documents to menobrain@med.uni-jena.de. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Application deadline: 15 December 2025  
• For more information concerning the research project please visit our webpage https://www.uniklinikum-jena.de/menobrain/en or contact Dr. Christiane Frahm Christiane.Frahm@med.uni-jena.de or Dr. Christian Schmeer Christian.Schmeer@med.uni-jena.de.

Reference number: DM42/2025

* Limited to 36 months, optionally extendable.

Regardless of origin, age, gender or disability - you are welcome here at Jena University Hospital.