Peter Witters

KU Leuven is offering a fully funded PhD position on Glycosphingolipid Dysregulation in Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) , based in Leuven, Belgium. The project is embedded in the Department of Development and Regeneration and the Laboratory of Applied Mass Spectrometry – Metabolomics expertise center, and it brings together expertise in clinical genetics, metabolomics, lipidomics, glycobiology, and systems biology. The PhD will investigate a newly emerging disease mechanism in CDG, a group of more than 200 rare inherited metabolic disorders. While CDG has traditionally been linked to abnormal protein glycosylation, this project focuses on glycosphingolipids and gangliosides as underexplored contributors to neurological disease. The work aims to define glycosphingolipid abnormalities in patient-derived fibroblasts, identify metabolic bottlenecks using tracer-based metabolomics and lipidomics, and validate disease mechanisms in neuronal-relevant cellular models through CRISPR-based engineering and pharmacological perturbation. Researchers will integrate lipidomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics to nominate therapeutic strategies, including glycosphingolipid supplementation and drug repurposing. The project is positioned within a larger translational research programme aimed at mechanism-based treatments for CDG, and it benefits from access to unique international CDG patient collections, advanced mass spectrometry infrastructure, multi-omics platforms, and strong international collaboration networks. The ideal candidate holds or will soon obtain a Master’s degree in a relevant biomedical or life science field such as Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Medicine, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Bioinformatics. Strong academic performance, fluency in English, and a genuine interest in rare disease research, neuroscience, metabolism, or molecular medicine are expected. Experience with cell culture, molecular biology, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, programming, or omics technologies is welcome but not required. The position is fully funded for 4 years, subject to successful evaluation under KU Leuven regulations, and provides a competitive salary according to doctoral scholarship scales. The expected start date is flexible, preferably October 2026. The successful candidate will join a dynamic international research team and work toward the degree of Doctor of Biomedical Sciences. Application materials include a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, and contact details for two academic referees. Applications should be submitted through the KU Leuven job portal before the deadline.