MSCA Doctoral Network PhD Position: Unravelling the Role of Posttranslational Modifications (PTMs) in β-catenin Interactions Technical University of Vienna in Austria

Technical University of Vienna (TU Wien) is advertising an MSCA Doctoral Network PhD position in the Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, focused on unravelling the role of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in β-catenin interactions. The project sits at the interface of chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, protein chemistry, and structural biology, and is part of the Horizon Europe MSCA-DN project FlexCAT (Grant Agreement No. 101311592).

The doctoral project aims to generate semi-synthetic β-catenin intrinsically disordered region (IDR) variants bearing site-specific PTMs, characterize their conformational properties and interactions, and identify which PTMs are critical for β-catenin regulation. The work emphasizes the less-explored N- and C-terminal disordered domains of β-catenin, which are important in protein interactions and degradation control. By combining protein chemistry with structural and functional analysis, the project seeks to uncover new regulatory sites and interaction partners with potential relevance for therapeutic intervention.

The position is embedded in a collaborative network involving the Conibear group (protein synthesis, ligation, and modification), the Madl group (structural biology of intrinsically disordered regions), and the Grossmann group (protein expression). A planned three-month secondment at the University of Göttingen will focus on structural and binding characterization of modified β-catenin variants using X-ray crystallography and binding assays. The doctoral degree will be enrolled at TU Wien, Faculty of Technical Chemistry.

Funding: the position is fully funded for three years and includes a competitive MSCA salary with Living Allowance, Mobility Allowance, and, where applicable, Family Allowance.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have, or soon complete, a relevant Master’s or diploma degree in chemistry, chemical biology, or a closely related field; strong laboratory and data-analysis skills; excellent English; and motivation for multidisciplinary doctoral research with hands-on experimental work, secondments, publications, conference presentations, and outreach. Experience in peptide synthesis and characterisation, NMR spectroscopy of peptides/proteins, or protein expression and purification is desirable. The MSCA mobility rule applies, and the candidate must not have spent more than 12 months in Austria during the previous 36 months.

Application window: applications open on 15 September 2026 and close on 31 October 2026 (23:59 Europe/Vienna). Shortlisted applicants will be invited to online pre-interviews in early November, with final interviews in late November/early December and decisions expected in mid-December 2026. The planned start date is between January and March 2027.

How to apply: applications are accepted exclusively through the recruitment portal at https://phd-recruiting.medunigraz.at/. Required documents include a motivation statement for the selected doctoral project, a detailed CV, publications if applicable, diplomas and transcripts, and contact details for two referees.