MSCA PhD Fellow in Cross-Disciplinary Glycoscience Research (DC1 – Biocolloid Binding and Transport in Glycocalyces) University of Leeds in United Kingdom

[£53,780 per annum (plus family allowance, dependent on eligibility), in line with MSCA Doctoral Network requirements, subject to tax and National Insurance deductions.]

The University of Leeds invites applications for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellow (DC1) in Cross-Disciplinary Glycoscience Research, focusing on biocolloid binding and transport in glycocalyces. This position is part of the GLYCOCALYX Horizon Europe Doctoral Network, which offers a multidisciplinary training programme in collaboration with leading academic and industrial partners. The network aims to advance understanding of the mammalian glycocalyx, a complex sugar-rich layer essential for multicellular life, by developing new analytical and physics-based tools to probe protein/glycan interactions and the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces.

As a PhD Fellow, you will develop innovative methods to study the sticky diffusion of biocolloids in molecularly defined models of the glycocalyx and decipher the physical rules governing these processes. The research will contribute to the rational design of regulators for glycocalyx permeation, with applications in pathogen-host cell interactions and targeted drug delivery. You will benefit from cutting-edge scientific training, industry-relevant transferable skills, and opportunities for research collaborations and work placements across the GLYCOCALYX network.

Three of the network’s 15 PhD Fellows will be hosted at the University of Leeds, a leading UK research-intensive institution. The position offers a competitive salary of £53,780 per annum (plus family allowance if eligible), in line with MSCA Doctoral Network requirements. The role is based on campus, with flexible working arrangements considered.

Eligibility requirements include holding a Masters (or equivalent) in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Neuroscience, Physics in Biology, or a related discipline, and not having lived or worked in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment. Applicants must be eligible to enrol in a first doctoral degree and have the right to work in the UK, which may require a visa. The position is suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker or Global Talent visa routes.

For further information, contact Professor Ralf Richter ([email protected]), the project’s primary supervisor. The application deadline is 30 March 2026. Apply via the University of Leeds job portal.