Doctoral Candidate Position 14 - metaSysX GmbH
AI-based systems biology analysis to identify new compounds using spectral information.
Description of project
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Increasing evidence points to mitochondrial dysfunction as a key factor in PD pathology, with damaged mitochondria contributing to immune activation and neuroinflammation. In this context, mass spectrometry-based metabolomic and lipidomic analysis of samples collected from PD patients and mouse models will be applied to help understanding the underlying processes and the genetic and environmental factors involved in amongst all in macrophages-mediated pathogen destruction and tissue remodeling.
The studies will be concentrating on using a combination of analytics and bioinformatics to find metabolites and/or dysfunctional pathways affected in the progression of PD using the samples available from cooperation partners. The aim of metabolomics is detection, identification and quantification of as many metabolites as possible. Of highest importance are metabolites that are discriminative for the PD development. Therefore, a candidate will combine the untargeted GC- and LC-MS metabolite profiling of plasma and/or CSF samples as well as complex data analysis (classification model and predictive model) to identify candidate biomarkers and foresee the disease progression. A development of an algorithms that allow automatic identification of hundreds of detected compounds using spectral information will be part of the project.
Required selection criteria
- Excellent track record in relation to the opportunity
- Completed Master's degree (or equivalent) in Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry or related disciplines
- Very good communication and collaboration skills and fluency in English
Preferred selection criteria
- Above-average commitment, ability to work independently and integrate into an interdisciplinary team
- Scientific curiosity and passion
- Background in programming (R or Phyton)
- Experience in chromatography and/or mass spectrometry or analytics will be an advantage.
Specific Requirements
- Must not already hold a doctoral degree
- Must comply with the MSC Action mobility rule: not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
- You must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School of Freie University Berlin
Benefits
- Access to state-of-the-art training within the BICEPS doctoral network, at an academic, and industry level
- Opportunities to collaborate with discipline specific world leading researchers
- A mobility allowance to support relocation
- A family allowance for the relocation of family (terms and conditions apply)
Eligibility criteria
metaSysX is a German company with an international team. We make an effort to create pleasant working environment for talents of different cultural and national background. We offer a challenging project and a possibility to gain an experience working in the company environment.
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP) and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers.
Selection process
The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English. Applications should include:
- Complete CV (name, address, degree(s) with transcript(s) of grades, research experience, educational and employment history, publications etc.)
- Letter of application (max. 1 page) including a short explanation of the applicant's motivation to undertake a PhD
- Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees
- A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
- Names, contact details (including email addresses) of at least two referees
If all, or parts, of your education have been completed abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.
Please use the harmonized Application Form before the deadline of 15-February 2025. Candidates are encouraged to apply early. Applications will be accepted until this deadline and considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Applications submitted by post or email will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.
In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, and personal and interpersonal qualities.
Additional comments
metaSysX stands for metabolomic system analysis. It was founded in 2012 as a spin-off company of Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology. Since then, metaSysX became one of the world-wide leader in implementation of metabolomic and lipidomic technologies for analysis of all types of samples. Its main expertise is mass spectrometry-based analytics and data analysis with emphesis mathematical modeling and on AI-driven approaches. The degree will be earned from Technische Universität Berlin. The PhD candidate will be co-supervised by DZNE, NKUA and FMUB.
We offer you in accordance with the national regulation of the Federal Republic of Germany:
A salary of € 3,000 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 3,505 gross per month in the third and final year, based on a full-time position (1.0 fte). The position is limited to a period of 3 years. The first year constitutes a probationary period, with an evaluation of the candidate's performance after 6 months. The objective of this evaluation is to establish whether the candidate will be able to finish a PhD thesis in the remaining three years. If the performance evaluation is positive, the candidate's contract will be extended for a total of 3 years.