PhD Position in Metabolomics and Mycotoxin Biomarker Discovery University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna in Austria

PhD Position in Metabolomics and Mycotoxin Biomarker Discovery @ IFA-Tulln

This is an open PhD opportunity at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), specifically within the Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics at IFA-Tulln in Tulln an der Donau, Austria. The project is led by Dr. Heidi Schwartz-Zimmermann and sits at the interface of analytical chemistry, metabolomics, toxicology, veterinary science, food and feed safety, and animal health.

The research focuses on understanding metabolome alterations caused by mycotoxin exposure in livestock, with an emphasis on identifying and validating novel biomarkers using advanced mass spectrometry and data analysis approaches. The successful candidate will work with biological samples from controlled animal trials and contribute to targeted and untargeted metabolomics workflows, statistical analysis, and machine learning-based interpretation of LC-MS data.

Research areas and keywords: LC-MS-based analytical chemistry, targeted and untargeted metabolomics, mycotoxin biomarker discovery, biostatistics, machine learning, toxicology, food/feed safety, and animal health.

What the role involves: developing and applying metabolomics methods for biological samples; processing, evaluating, and annotating high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry data; conducting statistical analyses and building machine learning models for classification and regression; operating and troubleshooting LC-MS systems; presenting results at conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals; and collaborating in an interdisciplinary research environment.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have a recent master’s degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, biotechnology, or a related field. Interest in analytical chemistry, metabolomics, toxicology, and data analysis is required. Experience with LC-MS and/or omics data analysis is an advantage, but not mandatory. Strong English communication, independence, teamwork, and organizational skills are expected.

Funding: this is a funded PhD position according to the Austrian collective agreement for university employees. The post also includes access to state-of-the-art LC-MS infrastructure, scientific training and coaching, professional development opportunities, and supportive supervision.

Application window: applications should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than 15 July 2026. Applicants should send a single PDF by email to [email protected] including a motivation letter and CV.