Nikoletta Fotaki

The University of Bath is offering a fully funded PhD position as part of the prestigious Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network project, BioTransform – Mapping the Uncharted Human Metabolism for Novel Food Bioactives. This project focuses on the exploration of olive and bilberry bioactives bioavailability aspects through advanced in silico techniques. The position is hosted by the Department of Life Sciences, a leading centre for pharmaceutical and pharmacological sciences research, with expertise in translational biopharmaceutics and the development of in vitro and in silico screening tools for predicting compound ADMET properties. BioTransform is a multidisciplinary network comprising 9 education and research entities across Europe, coordinated by the University of Antwerp. The network aims to investigate the metabolism of health-promoting food bioactives, particularly those from olive and bilberry, and their impact on health and disease. The research will employ state-of-the-art methods including human pilot studies, in vitro and in silico metabolism simulation, gut microbiome sequencing, metabolite profiling, and metabolomics. Metabolites will be biologically profiled using biochemical and cell-based assays. As a doctoral candidate, you will be part of an interdisciplinary and intersectoral supervisory team, participate in international secondments, and attend courses, workshops, and conferences. The fellowship offers a competitive salary in line with MSCA allowances, including mobility and family allowance, and may be extended for a fourth year depending on performance and host organisation policies. Eligibility: Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree and must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment. Candidates must also meet the University of Bath's local requirements. Applications require a motivation letter, CV with transcript, and contact details for two referees. Application: All applications must be submitted via the BioTransform website. The deadline for applications is April 29, 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Nikoletta Fotaki at [email protected]. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a high-profile European research network and develop expertise in pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, and advanced computational techniques for food bioactives research.