Application deadline: Saturday, October 31, 2026
About the Project
Capture secreted microproteins that may act as signals between cancer cells, and the receptors they bind, using proteomics at the University of Freiburg.
Why it matters
Many small open reading frames (smORFs) are translated into microproteins that standard catalogs miss. Some are secreted and can act as signals between cells in a tumor, but they are scarce and short-lived and therefore hard to detect. Finding them, and the receptors they bind, opens a route to new tumor biomarkers and drug targets.
The project
You will capture these secreted microproteins and their receptors by combining bioorthogonal tagging (a small chemical handle on newly made proteins) with crosslinking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) in cancer cell co-culture models. The result is an atlas of secreted microproteins in the tumor microenvironment, whose hits become targets for binder design and antigen presentation studies elsewhere in the network.
What you will do
- Build workflows that tag microprotein libraries with minimal bioorthogonal handles
- Use XL-MS in co-culture to identify the cell-surface receptors that secreted microproteins bind
- Map microprotein-mediated cell-cell communication in the tumor microenvironment
- Identify candidate tumor biomarkers and share data on the ORFeome platform
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. Simon Elsässer at the University of Freiburg, which develops bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid labeling and crosslinking mass spectrometry to detect microproteins and study their biology in tumor systems. You will work closely with the group of Prof. Jyoti Choudhary at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, which brings mass-spectrometry proteomics platform expertise.
Who should apply
We welcome applications from proteomics, biochemistry, mass spectrometry and chemical biology graduates with an interest in cancer biology. This is a wet-lab project.
- A master's degree (or equivalent) in biochemistry, chemical biology, molecular or cell biology, proteomics, or a related field
- Hands-on lab experience in cell culture and protein biochemistry, and familiarity with mass-spectrometry proteomics
- Good written and spoken English
- Nice to have: bioorthogonal or non-canonical amino acid labeling, XL-MS, proximity labeling, co-culture models, proteomics data analysis
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 Germany 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. Simon Elsässer and Prof. Jyoti Choudhary, with mentoring from partners across academia and industry
- A secondment of around three months with an ORFeus industry partner [name only once confirmed]
- Training with 14 other ORFeus PhD candidates across Europe: network schools, workshops, transferable skills and international conferences
- PhD enrollment at the University of Freiburg
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/ - registering your interest on this website is not equivalent to an application. You can apply to up to three of the 15 ORFeus projects and rank them; every project you rank considers you. 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 Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months before your start date. Applicants must not hold a doctoral degree.