That’s the project

The project of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) doctoral network focuses on understanding and postponing yeast cell death (UPsYDe) to improve production. Each of 13 doctoral projects will focus on a different aspect. You will also collaborate with the other consortium members of UPsYDe and perform secondments in another academic group as well as at an industrial partner associated to the project.

At acib, we focus on Komagataella phaffii (syn. Pichia pastoris), a methylotrophic yeast that is frequently used as production host for recombinant proteins and C1-based metabolites. For sustainable bioproduction, it is a prerequisite that cells remain alive and producing during the whole bioprocess. So far, there is little to no knowledge on the key players responsible for regulated cell death in K. phaffii. Therefore, this PhD project aims to detect which modes of cell death are occurring in K. phaffii and identify the genetic factors involved in cell death and culture heterogeneity during survival. The gained insights will be used to feed metabolic models and to design K. phaffii chassis strains with prolonged lifespan under industrial conditions.

That could be your tasks

• State-of-the art molecular biology and cloning
• Cultivation of yeast in small scale and bioreactors
• Application and adaptation of yeast cell death assays
• Analysis of protein quality and quantity
• Analysis of cell morphologies by microscopy and/or flow cytometry methods
• Communication of results to experts and the general public

That could be your future

Join our team at a reputable, nationally and internationally well-connected research centre at the forefront of biotechnological innovation. You will be embedded within the academic environment of the Department of Biotechnology & Food Science in the Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology. You are working in an enjoyable work climate, have numerous possibilities for further education and personal development. You are part of a challenging and helpful work environment full of team spirit and enthusiasm for your job. You expand your expertise and bridge your science to industry. We offer you fully flexible working hours and a package of voluntary social benefits (e.g. meal vouchers or tickets for public transport) is also part of our modern corporate culture. And not to forget: You make your research visible and broaden your network!

That’s important to us

In the best way you have completed a Master’s degree or Diploma for a recognized University in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related fields. We are particularly interested in candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Practical experience in molecular biology, synthetic biology and/or (microbial) cell engineering required.
• Practical experience in bioreactor cultivation and bioinformatics applications (such as metabolic modeling) required.
• Scientific interest in recombinant protein production and yeast physiology desired.
• Strong interest and ability to quickly master new (laboratory) techniques to effectively tackle complex, multidisciplinary scientific queries.
• Passion for understanding cellular mechanisms and microbial physiology and translating this knowledge into improved and sustainable bioprocesses.
• You should enjoy the work in an international interdisciplinary environment.
• Excellent skills in spoken and written English, an organized approach with strong attention to detail and good communication skills with ability to work well in teams. 
• IMPORTANT: The Mobility Rule for European Doctoral Networks applies: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Austria for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the start of employment.

That’s what you should know

• The annual gross salary is around EUR 40.000 + a monthly mobility allowance.
• This corresponds to a monthly net amount of EUR 2.084,04 (paid 14 times a year).
• In addition, a Mobility Allowances of EUR 710,00 net per month is due.

• Start: June - September 2026
• The PhD will be carried out in approximately 3 years at ACIB under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Brigitte Gasser (BOKU). Within this time, it is expected that two research stays (approx. 3 months) will be conducted, one in an academic group in Portugal and one industrial stay in either Denmark or Spain.

Scientific Contact: Assoc. Prof. Brigitte Gasser – brigitte.gasser@boku.ac.at

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And now it’s your turn! Give us an idea of who you are.

Apply via the application portal: short.acib.at/01-2026

Application deadline: March 08, 2026

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, taking into account the requirements of the role. It is particularly important to us that our job offers appeal to all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, origin, age, nationality or religion.