GLYCOCALYX Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN): 15 PhD Positions in bespoke physics, chemistry and biolo[...] in London

Organisation/Company: GLYCOCALYX Doctoral Network

Department: GLYCOCALYX Doctoral Network

Research Field: Biological sciences, Chemistry, Physics

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Application Deadline: 30 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London)

Country: United Kingdom

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA

Are you keen to progress glycoscience research across disciplines? Do you have research experience and a keen interest in developing new physics, chemistry and biology tools to reveal the self‑organisation and barrier functions of the mammalian glycocalyx?

Applications are invited for 15 PhD positions, each for 36 months, to work in the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Doctoral Network GLYCOCALYX.

About the Network: GLYCOCALYX brings together 15 leading European partners in a transnational network, implementing a multidisciplinary and intersectorial research and training programme between the academic and industrial partners, to research the self‑organisation and barrier functions of the mammalian glycocalyx.

Virtually all mammalian cells are covered with a dense and complex coat of sugar chains (glycans) known as the glycocalyx, which is essential for multicellular life. Glycocalyces accomplish critical functions in inter‑cellular communication, controlling tissue development, homeostasis and repair, inflammatory and immune responses, neuronal connectivity, and symbiosis with bacteria. However, when dysregulated, they can promote immune diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer. Glycocalyces also act as the first line of defence against pathogens, but some pathogens have evolved to hijack the glycocalyx to promote infection.

Despite their importance, mammalian glycocalyces remain the ‘dark matter’ of biology, under‑studied owing to the historical lack of preparative and analytical tools to probe the local molecular composition and transient interactions of molecules within glycocalyces, and missing physics rules to interpret experimental observations.

The GLYCOCALYX Network will train 15 PhD Fellows in chemistry, physics and biology methods and concepts required to resolve the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces. The project will establish a new level of understanding of how glycocalyces perform their many selective barrier functions. The PhD Fellows will receive cutting edge scientific training, alongside industry‑relevant transferable skills, to equip them for careers in the medical technology sector and its underpinning research and innovations.

PhD Projects:

• DC1: Biocolloid diffusion and transport in glycocalyces
• DC2: Glycocalyx self‑organisation: the driving force for perineuronal net formation?
• DC3: Targeting tissues using multivalent lectin‑glycan interactions
• DC4: Imaging the dynamics and viscoelastic properties of the glycocalyx at single molecule resolution
• DC5: Impact of selective shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx on haemodynamics
• DC6: Glycocalyx softness and control of bacterial adhesion
• DC7: Recognition and self‑organisation of the glycocalyx – Does binder clustering matter?
• DC8: Spatial fingerprinting of nanoscale glycocalyx architectures
• DC9: Lectin‑based labels for glycan imaging using DNA‑PAINT super‑resolution microscopy
• DC10: The mucosal glycocalyx and the host‑microorganism relationship in homeostasis and infection
• DC11: Synthetic dendritic cell glycocalyx – Bridging the gap between molecules and cells
• DC12: Viral infections in the endothelium – Glycocalyx penetration and viral pathogenesis
• DC13: Endothelial glycocalyx degradation during viral diseases
• DC14: Analysis of glycocalyx glycans using novel LC‑FD‑MS chromatography techniques
• DC15: Combining coarse‑grained modelling and machine learning to unravel the role of the glycocalyx in modulating viral attachment to the cell‑surface

Eligibility: The GLYCOCALYX Network is committed to gender balance and equal‑opportunity access throughout the recruitment process. Candidates must have the necessary right to work in the country of the host institution. This may involve obtaining an appropriate visa in some circumstances. At the time they are hired, Doctoral Candidates must meet the MSCA mobility rule: they must not have lived in, or carried out their main activities (such as work or studies) in the country of their future host organisation for more than 12 months during the 3 years immediately before their start date. Proof of compliance with this rule will be required, as it is essential for eligibility. Applicants must also be willing to undertake international mobility when beginning their position, since all roles include secondments to partner institutions within the GLYCOCALYX Network. To qualify, applicants must hold – or obtain before the start of their contract – a degree giving access to doctoral studies in the country of their host institution or PhD awarding institution (typically a Master’s degree) in the relevant scientific fields described in each position. Please refer to individual positions for specific details. Candidates should not have already been awarded a PhD.

Required skills and qualifications: Please refer to the individual research projects, which can be accessed through the GLYCOCALYX website, where you will find a direct link from each of the PhD projects to the associated vacancy.

Benefits and salary: The selected candidates will receive a competitive remuneration aligned with the MSCA rules for PhD Researchers (see here for the official guidelines). The final gross salary will be determined at the time of appointment.