PhD Candidate in Synthetic Biology and Metagenomics (MetaExplore MSCA Doctoral Network)

The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is offering a PhD position in Synthetic Biology and Metagenomics as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) project MetaExplore. This international consortium, coordinated by the University of Cambridge, brings together 23 academic and industrial partners across Europe to unlock the potential of global metagenomic sequence space using synthetic biology, machine learning, and ultrahigh-throughput screening technologies. The project aims to discover and engineer novel biocatalysts and bioactive compounds with applications in biotechnology, medicine, and sustainability. The successful candidate will focus on developing synthetic expression elements (such as promoters, 5'-UTRs, and regulatory modules) to expand host compatibility, engineering alternative microbial hosts like Pseudomonas putida to improve fosmid-based screening efficiency, and applying ML-assisted sequence design to enhance gene expression performance. Experimental validation of new hosts and expression systems will be conducted through functional screening of metagenomic clones encoding novel enzymes and bioactives. The work will be performed in close collaboration with MetaExplore partners and will include international secondments at both academic and industrial institutions. The candidate will also work closely with a PhD fellow at SINTEF on a complementary project focused on metagenomic-based discovery of enzymes and compounds for anti-biofilm functions or biopolymer degradation. The position offers world-class training, mobility opportunities, and access to cutting-edge facilities within the Lale research group at NTNU. Applicants must have a relevant Master’s degree in biotechnology, molecular biology, microbiology, or synthetic biology, with a strong academic record and excellent English skills. The MSCA Mobility Rule applies, and preferred qualifications include experience in molecular cloning, microbial strain engineering, gene expression analysis, bioinformatics, ML-assisted sequence analysis, metagenomic library construction or screening, and microfluidics. The position is funded for three years through the EU Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network grant MetaExplore, with a gross annual salary of NOK 550,800 and additional benefits such as membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund and free basic Norwegian language training. The application deadline is 31 December 2025, and applications must be submitted electronically via Jobbnorge.no with all required documentation. NTNU values diversity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds. The university is located in Trondheim, a vibrant city known for its rich cultural scene, excellent welfare system, and high quality of life.