Offer Description
Training program to engage flexible and disordered protein targets for therapeutic development:
The oncogene β-catenin as showcase
Prof. Daniel Abankwa
University of Luxembourg
Project Title: Restoring aberrant cell differentiation with peptidic β-catenin ligands
Objectives:
1. Determine the specific impact of Wnt signaling on C2C12 progenitors and differentiation.
2. Develop dedicated BRET-biosensors to measure intracellular protein-protein interactions in the Wnt-pathway.
3. Investigate the impact of developed peptidic ligands on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in C2C12 cells.
Project Overview: The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a central regulator of cell differentiation and stemness. Aberrant differentiation leads to developmental defects and cancer. We hypothesize that aberrant differentiation that is perturbed by abnormal Wnt/β-catenin activity can be restored by peptidic ligands of β-catenin, probably in a context-specific manner, by targeting specific sites on β-catenin. We will measure the intracellular impact of selected and most active β-catenin targeting peptic ligands from WP5, using an established assay pipeline, examining their impact on C2C12 myoblast cell differentiation, as well as signaling and confocal localization studies. Dedicated BRET-biosensors will be developed to analyze target engagement and other molecular events. This analysis will inform improvements that can be re-applied in WP5 for successive rounds of peptidic ligand optimization. Cancer cell proliferation assays have been utilized for decades. However, cancer is not only a disease of over-proliferation, but even more of dedifferentiation. We will successfully demonstrate how our differentiation-focused assay pipeline integrates into the Wnt/β-catenin-pathway drug discovery process.
Contribution to the overall research program: Cellular differentiation read-out and feedback for designed peptide ligands.
Where to apply
Website: https://phd-recruiting.medunigraz.at/
Requirements
Research Field: Chemistry
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
General criteria:
Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. To be eligible for recruitment as an MSCA Doctoral Candidate, applicants must fulfil the following criteria at the date of recruitment:
- Education – you do not hold a doctoral degree and hold (or will shortly complete) a science Master’s degree (see individual project requirements), with excellent results, qualifying you for admission to the doctoral program of the respective host institution. The successful candidate must fulfil the admission requirements of the respective doctoral programme and will be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project.
- Mobility - you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in recruiting beneficiary’s country for more than 12 months during the 36 months before your recruitment. Compulsory national service, holidays/short stays and time spent obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention4 are not considered for this purpose.
- Language & communication – excellent command of spoken and written English (min. B2 level). Ability to communicate results clearly to diverse audiences, both in writing and verbally.
- Motivation – motivation for multidisciplinary, international doctoral research, hands-on experimental work, mandatory academic/industy secondment(s), to publish research findings in international journals, present results at conferences and contribute to project deliverables. Willingness to contribute to project network-wide activities, communication, training events, and dissemination efforts.
- Technical skills – specific to the individual DC project (see individual project descriptions).
Specific Requirements
Skills and research profile:
MSc in Biochemistry, Developmental Biology, Biophysical Chemistry or related field. Good knowledge in molecular biochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and/ or bioluminescence experiments applied to cell biology is required. In addition, given the strong collaborative character, good project organisation and interaction skills are desired. Moreover, basic skills in cell culture methods ideally with experience in cellular differentiation models are an asset.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Chemistry
Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4
Additional Information
Selection process
How to apply:
Applications are exclusively accepted through the Recruitment Portal (https://phdrecruiting.medunigraz.at/). The required information is specified in the recruitment portal and comprises:
- Motivation statement for selected DC projects
- Detailed CV; publication list if applicable
- BSc/MSc diplomas and academic transcripts/supplements
- Contact details for two referees
Applications will be assessed for eligibility and scientific/academic quality. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview. The final selection will follow the open, transparent and merit-based recruitment principles of MSCA.
Key dates:
- Applications open: 15 September 2026
- Applications close: 31 October 2026
- Online pre-interviews: early November 2026
- Final interviews: late November/early December 2026
- Decisions and offers: mid-December 2026
- Start: January 2027 – March 2027
Additional comments
Salary: The position is funded by the Horizon Europe MSCA-DN project FlexCAT (Grant Agreement No. [contact details available in the full listing]) for three years. The selected candidate will be offered a competitive salary comprising a Living Allowance (adjusted by the country correction coefficient), a Mobility Allowance, and, if applicable, a Family Allowance. All allowances are subject to applicable social security contributions and taxation.
Planned secondment: 1. Host: HUJ; Supervisor: Prof. Ora Schueler-Furman; Length: 3 months.
Purpose: Modeling of protein/protein interactions to facilitate constructions of BRET-biosensors.
Website for additional job details: https://phd-recruiting.medunigraz.at/
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: University of Luxembourg
Country: Luxembourg
