The doctoral project will examine whether bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) isolated from stool samples differ according to cognitive performance and menopause-related phenotypes, and how these vesicles activate innate immune pathways relevant to neuroinflammation. In the wider MenoBrain programme, bEVs are studied as candidate biomarkers of menopause-related cognitive decline and as mechanistic mediators of microbiome-brain interactions. The work contributes to the network's subtheme on gut microbiome-brain interactions, which combines microbiome profiling, biomarker discovery, metabolic modelling and translational approaches to understand cognitive health in menopause.
Where to apply
E-mail: menobrain@med.uni-jena.de
Requirements
- Research Field: Biological sciences
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
- Research Field: Computer science » Other
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Requirements for the applicant: The selected candidate will work on the isolation, characterization and functional analysis of intestinal bEVs from human stool samples. Experimental work will include filtration and gradient ultracentrifugation for vesicle isolation; electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis for vesicle characterization; RNA isolation and PCR; SDS-PAGE-based protein analysis; cell culture and immunostimulation experiments; and flow cytometry and/or fluorescence-based assays to study Toll-like receptor-mediated immune responses. The project also includes broad omics characterization of bEV-associated signatures, including 16S profiling, metabolomics, proteomics and lipidomics, thus offering excellent training opportunities for candidates interested in bioinformatics and multi-omics data integration. Very good language skills in English are required.
Specific Requirements
MSCA eligibility (must-have): Please note the eligibility criteria for researchers: Candidates must be in the first four years of his/her research career, not have a doctoral degree, and not have resided in Finland for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
Languages: English — Level: Excellent
Research Field: Biological sciences · Computer science
Additional Information
Selection process
Interested candidates please send a motivation letter, a CV including publications (if available), copies of university degrees and courses (including obtained grades), and the names and e-mail addresses of two scientists who can provide references (all summarized in one pdf) to menobrain@med.uni-jena.de. Applications that do not meet the profile and/or the above criteria cannot be considered. Preferential treatment will be given to applications received before 15 October 2026.
For more information concerning the research project please contact Dr. Justus Reunanen (justus.reunanen@oulu.fi).
Website for additional job details: https://www.uniklinikum-jena.de/menobrain/en/Recruitment+_+Open+Calls/DC+15+_+UOULU-p-56.html
