Application deadline: Saturday, 31 October 2026
About the Project
Use mass spectrometry and thermal proteome profiling to discover what hidden Salmonella proteins do, at Ghent University, with a secondment at Bruker.
Why it matters
More and more microproteins are being discovered, but what they do and which proteins they interact with is largely unknown. Thermal proteome profiling (TPP) offers a way in: it measures how the heat stability of every protein in a cell shifts when a partner disappears or conditions change, and those shifts point to interactions and function.
The project
You will apply TPP to 20 microprotein deletion strains of Salmonella enterica across five growth conditions, to map how losing a microprotein changes stability and interactions across the whole proteome. The most confident interactions are validated biophysically and compared with AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold structure predictions, together with the protein design project in Utrecht. Your workflows are built for reuse in host-pathogen studies elsewhere in the network.
What you will do
- Develop and standardize TPP workflows across Salmonella deletion strains and growth conditions
- Infer microprotein interactions by combining TPP data with structure predictions
- Validate interactions with biolayer interferometry and SEC-MALS
- Spend around three months at Bruker in Germany, optimizing TPP on advanced mass-spectrometry platforms
About ORFeus
This PhD is one of 15 in ORFeus, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network funded by Horizon Europe. ORFeus brings together 15 research groups in eight European countries, with industry and research partners, to study the dark proteome: the many microproteins made from small open reading frames long dismissed as non-coding. Together, the 15 projects aim to find these proteins, understand what they do, and test their potential in diagnosis, immunotherapy and drug development, with a strong focus on cancer.
Where you will work
You will join the group of Prof. Petra Van Damme at Ghent University, which uses advanced proteomics, including positional proteomics and thermal proteome profiling, to study microprotein function. You will work closely with the group of Dr. Danny Sahtoe at the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht, which brings computational protein design and structural biology expertise.
Who should apply
We welcome applications from proteomics, biochemistry, mass spectrometry and microbiology graduates. This is a wet-lab project with quantitative data analysis.
- A master's degree (or equivalent) in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, or a related field
- Hands-on lab experience, ideally in protein biochemistry, mass spectrometry or proteomics, and comfort with quantitative data
- Good written and spoken English
- Nice to have: mass-spectrometry proteomics, bacterial genetics or Salmonella work, biolayer interferometry or SEC-MALS
Eligibility (MSCA rules)
Living or studying in the UK? You are likely eligible for this position.
You must not have lived or carried out your main activity (work, studies) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months before your start date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent in a refugee status procedure do not count. You must not hold a doctoral degree. Any nationality may apply.
What we offer
- A 36-month, full-time employment contract with full social security, under MSCA rules
- Supervision by Prof. Petra Van Damme and Dr. Danny Sahtoe, with mentoring from partners across academia and industry
- A secondment of around three months at Bruker
- Training with 14 other ORFeus PhD candidates across Europe: network schools, workshops, transferable skills and international conferences
- PhD enrollment at Ghent University
Practical details
Start around March 2027; the exact date depends on the host institution. Reference letters are requested only at the interview stage.
How to apply
You can only apply via https://www.orfeus-dn.eu/apply/.
The application asks for:
- a few eligibility questions
- a short motivation per project (150 to 200 words)
- your experience with the project's key techniques
- your CV
- an overview of your bachelor's and master's grades, in one PDF
- contact details for two referees
- a short motivational video
Funding Notes
Fully funded 36-month employment contract in ORFeus, an MSCA Doctoral Network (Horizon Europe, GA 101309891), with full social security. A salary, not a stipend. Salary details for this position are on the application page. Open to all nationalities, including applicants living or studying in the UK. Mobility rule: you must not have lived, worked or studied in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months before your start date. Applicants must not hold a doctoral degree.