A fully funded PhD position is available at the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, supervised by Dr. Zhenjiao Du. The project centers on the AI-driven discovery of bioactive peptides, integrating machine learning, computational biology, and food engineering to accelerate the identification of peptides with therapeutic and functional potential.

The research aims to establish an AI-powered peptide discovery platform capable of predicting a comprehensive range of biofunctional and safety-related properties of peptides, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as cell-penetrating potential and toxicity. The project also welcomes students interested in exploring large language models (LLMs) for fermentation and biomanufacturing applications. Specific objectives include protein/peptide language model development, bioactive peptide discovery platform development, high-potential bioactive peptide discovery and validation, and application to valorize agricultural and food processing byproducts.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and expertise in food chemistry, microbiology, and machine learning. The position offers a generous stipend and full tuition waiver for four years.

Applicants should have a relevant degree, strong teamwork and communication skills, and proficiency in Python and Linux-based GPU environments. English language proficiency is required. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with shortlisted candidates invited for interview. For more details, visit the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering website.