Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Network Fellow ON-TRACT in Southampton

We have exciting opportunities for you to join us and study for your PhD, developing novel oligonucleotide (ON) analogues for medicinal applications. We are seeking 3 outstanding Doctoral Candidates (DCs) for a fully funded studentship as part of the prestigious Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network "OligoNucleotide Technologies for Rapid Advancement of Cancer Therapies ON-TRACT." The studentship covers UK fees and provides a generous salary, consumables, and travel budget.

ON-TRACT unites leading universities, hospitals, SMEs, and pharmaceutical companies across Europe. As a doctoral candidate, you will receive world‑class interdisciplinary training, including academic, industry, and hospital placements, plus courses in cutting‑edge science and transferable skills. Based in the School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, you will research the design and evaluation of novel ON systems and analogue models for specific purposes.

• Post 1: Synthesis of building blocks for evolution of polymerases to revolutionise PCR‑based technologies, enabling innovative cancer‑targeted therapies.
• Post 2: Development of antisense oligonucleotides and conjugates for targeted inhaled delivery to lung tissue, addressing diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, and COPD.
• Post 3: Design of modified oligonucleotides to target IRES structures of oncogenic mRNAs, avoiding global translation inhibition and testing efficacy in organoid models.

In order to be considered for these posts, please also complete the postgraduate application process for the desired post above.

Responsibilities:

• Defining research questions, conducting independent research, collaborating with ON‑TRACT partners (including extended study periods abroad), engaging in training, and disseminating results in high‑impact venues.
• Working as part of an interdisciplinary team and developing a wide‑range skill set.
• Gaining transferable skills in communication, data management, project organisation, collaboration, entrepreneurship, research ethics, and intersectoral exposure to real‑world challenges.

Qualifications:

• You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree or Masters, or its international equivalent in one of the following or related disciplines: Chemistry or Chemical Biology, or a strong background in organic chemistry is strongly preferred.
• You must fulfil the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Doctoral Network criteria: you must not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree and be eligible to enrol in a PhD programme; the mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.
• You should be able to start the job by May 2026 or soon thereafter.

Upon appointment the role title will be "MSCA Doctoral Network Research Fellow".

Fees and Funding:

The funding for this PhD studentships is offered as part of the ON‑TRACT network coordinated by Southampton; further information can be obtained from Dr Eugen Stulz (est@soton.ac.uk). Due to restrictions in international tuition fees, the projects are only available to candidates from the EU/EEA or certain associated countries; for eligible residencies see here.