Nina Schmolka
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Research Fellowship for a PhD student at Católica Biomedical Research Centre - Nina Schmolka Lab Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Portugal
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Biology
Funding
Available
Deadline
Nov 23, 2026
Country
Portugal
University
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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About this position
This PhD-level research fellowship is based at the Católica Biomedical Research Centre of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Oeiras, Portugal, working in the Nina Schmolka Lab on developmental haematopoiesis. The project focuses on unraveling the molecular control of embryonic blood development, an area where the mechanisms governing early blood commitment are still poorly understood.
The successful candidate will join a project that studies how transcriptional and chromatin-based mechanisms shape lineage choice during embryonic blood development. The work combines mouse embryonic stem cell and human induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation models with large-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens to identify molecular regulators of early haematopoiesis.
The fellowship offers the chance to functionally characterise newly identified regulators using a broad toolkit that includes high-dimensional FACS analysis, controlled knock-out strategies, gene expression analysis, chromatin accessibility assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, ATAC-seq, and genome-wide binding analysis. The broader goal is to discover novel regulatory mechanisms in early blood development and to support future improvements in stem cell derivation and expansion protocols relevant to blood disease applications.
The position is embedded in a supportive research environment with regular meetings and mentoring under the supervision of Professor Nina Schmolka.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants must be enrolled in a course leading to a doctoral degree and hold a master's degree in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Genetics, or a related scientific field. At least one year of laboratory experience in blood or immune cell cultures is required. Candidates should have excellent spoken and written English, strong communication skills for presenting scientific work, and the ability to work independently in a collaborative, multicultural, and multilingual environment. Experience in cell culture of immune cells or pluripotent stem cells is specifically valued, and molecular and cell biology skills including CRISPR-Cas9, cloning, advanced FACS analysis, and/or computational analysis are highly valued.
How to apply
Submit the required documents by email to [email protected]. Include a motivation letter, CV, and proof of enrolment in a PhD course or a declaration of honour if enrolment will begin at the contract start date. Use the subject reference BI-M-CBR-2026-05- #Candidate's name#.
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Professors
Professor at Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Portugal
Research Interests
Medical Science
Functional Genomics
Transcriptional Regulation
Biology
Cell Differentiation
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.