PhD position: Products and processes causing or postponing cell death in the yeast Komagataella phaffii (DC10)

That’s the project

The project of the Horizon Europe 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 well-established host for the production of recombinant proteins ranging from biopharmaceuticals, to technical enzymes and alternative food proteins. Additionally, it is recently applied for the production of C1-based biochemicals. In industrial production processes, it has been observed that viability and thus also productivity decline over process time and that morphological changes occur for individual cells. Therefore, this PhD project aims to detect the impact of process conditions and products on cell death and heterogeneity in K. phaffii and elucidate which modes of cell death are active under industrial production. Understanding the links between product formation and cell death mode will enable insights in process conditions that cause or postpone K. phaffii cell death. These will be applied to identify improved process characteristics for recombinant protein production by K. phaffii and prolong bioproduction in an industrial showcase.

That could be your tasks

• Cultivation of yeast in small scale and bioreactors
• Generation of production strains by state-of-the art molecular biology and cloning methods
• Testing of bioprocess conditions and products on yeast cell death and culture heterogeneity
• Application of yeast cell death assays
• Analysis of protein quality and quantity
• Analysis of cell morphologies by microscopy and/or flow cytometry methods
• Mathematical modelling to design bioprocesses with reduced cell death
• Communication of results to experts and the general public
• Detailed protocolling of the experimental work

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 possibilites 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, Biochemistry, Chemistry or related engineering disciplines. We are particularly interested in candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Practical experience in bioreactor cultivation and molecular biology required.
• Practical experience in mathematical modelling and/or (microbial) cell engineering required.
• Scientific interest in yeast biotechnology and modelling desired.
• 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 the academic group at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and one industrial stays in either Denmark or Spain.

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/02-2026
Application deadline: 08th of March 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.