PhD-position Mechanisms of protein aggregate clearance

Closing date: November 2

Project Description

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our research group investigating the cellular mechanisms that protect against (toxic) protein aggregation. Protein aggregates in the central nervous system are a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and polyglutamine diseases like Huntington’s disease. Our group studies how protein aggregate formation can be inhibited and how these toxic aggregates are cleared, which are important aspects for identifying potential disease-ameliorating targets for future therapeutic approaches.

We recently discovered that protein aggregates are degraded via selective autophagy (aggrephagy), but only if they are fragmented beforehand. In this study, we identified the players of the fragmentase involved, but the precise mechanism of action and the dynamics of aggregate fragmentation remain unsolved. This project builds on that recent discovery and aims to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying the functional properties of this fragmentase. We will investigate how the fragmentation of aggregates and subsequent autophagic clearance cooperate, and whether simultaneous stimulation of these processes increases aggregate clearance. The project will employ a combination of advanced cell biology, molecular biology, live-cell imaging, and proteomics approaches.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating and carrying out a scientific research project.
• Actively participating in multidisciplinary meetings and project teams.
• Developing and optimizing experimental procedures and conducting literature review.
• Supervising science rotations of Bachelor and Master students.

Working Environment

At the UMCG, you will work within the Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMS) and be part of an inspiring work environment where fundamental research and the development of patient treatments merge. You will be supervised in a small, starting research group that studies the fundamental mechanisms underlying multiple neurological diseases, using state-of-the-art imaging and biochemical techniques. This research is embedded in the protein homeostasis group of the BMS, and you will closely collaborate with researchers from other groups working on different aspects of protein homeostasis within our department and beyond. As a PhD student at the UMCG, you will be part of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences (GSMS), which offers a high-quality training environment for developing professional and personal competencies.

What Do We Need

• MSc in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or biomedical sciences.
• Excellent oral and written command of English.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and comfortable working in an international research environment.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and molecular biology experimental techniques.
• Experience with imaging techniques and image analysis software is preferred.

What Do We Offer

Initially, you will be appointed for one year with the option to extend for another three years; this prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress and academic development in the first year. A PhD training program is part of the agreement. Your salary is €3,108 gross per month in the first year and up to a maximum of €3,939 gross per month in the fourth year (scale PhD as of 1st of July 2025). Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for University Medical Centres (CAO-UMC). You will have access to excellent research infrastructure, opportunities for international collaboration, and dedicated support for career development and scientific education. All this while living in Groningen, a vibrant and welcoming university city with a great quality of life.

Starting date: January 2026