Msca - Doctoral Candidate (Dc6) - Phd Fellowship in

Réf **ABG-122022**
- Sujet de Thèse- 29/03/2024- Financement de l'Union européenne- : Spanish Council for Scientific Research, IIM-CSIC.- Lieu de travail- Vigo - Espagne- Intitulé du sujet-
- Champs scientifiques- Biologie
- Biotechnologie
- Mathématiques
- Mots clés- Applied mathematics, systems biology, Bioengineering, microbial communities, dynamic modelling**Description du sujet**:
Title: DC6, PhD fellowship in Improving Predictive Power: Addressing Identifiability Challenges in Microbial Community Models.
Type of contract: Temporary.
Job status: Full-time.
Duration: 36 months.
Application deadline: 15/05/2024 23:59 - Europe/Brussels.
Envisaged job starting date: October 2024.

Please note that this PhD position will lead to the award of a **double diploma** after the completion of a stay in each of these organisations: the **University of Vigo (UVIGO)**, Spain and the **University of Leuven** (KUL), Netherlands.

**Project description**:
**Scientific context**:
Plant-based dairy and meat alternatives have grown in popularity in recent years for various reasons, including sustainability and health benefits, as well as lifestyle trends and dietary restrictions. However, plant-based food products can be nutritionally unbalanced, and their flavour profiles may limit their acceptance by consumers. Microorganisms have been used in making food products for millennia. However, the diversity of microbial communities driving plant-based fermentations, as well as their key genetic and phenotypic traits and potential synergies among community members, remain poorly characterised. Many data exist, but they are spread into different literature (scientific and grey) or, in the best case, in different databases. However, they are not always reusable because they are difficult to find and access and because databases are not systematically interoperable.

**Objectives**:
**Expected results**:

- Novel methods for the structural identifiability analysis of ecological models.
- Novel methods for model-based experimental design accounting for biological variability.

**Location and planned seconmdents**:
**Enrolment in Doctoral degree**:
**Supervisors team**:
Our research institute is located in the vibrant coastal city of Vigo, situated in Galicia, on the northwest coast of Spain. Vigo is a place where land and sea meet, offering picturesque beaches, fresh seafood, and a lively maritime culture.

KU Leuven/BioTeC+ runs a state-of-the-art L2 accredited laboratory for experimental predictive microbiology research, as well as high-end computing facilities. Our five postdocs and 14 PhD researchers are involved in numerous international research projects and networks, including six ongoing EU projects. As a most international and inclusive team, we look forward to welcome you to our campus in the vibrant city of Gent, Belgium

**We offer**:

- A comprehensive, interactive and international training programme covering the broader aspects and interface between life science, data science, artificial intelligence and humanities and social sciences, as well as transferable skills.
- An enthusiastic team of professionals to co-operate with.
- Personal Career Development Plan (PDCP) to prepare young researchers for their future careers
- Each DC will undergo individual training at individual institutes according to the PCDP description.
- family = be married/be in a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where it was formalised/have dependent children who are being maintained by the researcher.

**Prise de fonction**:

- 01/10/2024**Nature du financement**:

- Financement de l'Union européenne**Précisions sur le financement**:

- Horizon Europe - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) - Joint Doctorate.**Présentation établissement et labo d'accueil**:

- : Spanish Council for Scientific Research, IIM-CSIC.**Host institution descriptions**:
The** Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)** is the largest public research organisation in Spain and one of the most important in the European Research Area (ERA). It is the main player in the Spanish Science, Technology, and Innovation System and is currently made up of over 13,200 people. These individuals are distributed between the CSIC Corporate Organization, 121 research institutes, and three national centres located throughout Spain, as well as an institute in Rome. The CSIC conducts research in three core areas: Society, Life, and Material, which cover most academic disciplines. In March 2021, the CSIC was among the institutions awarded the 'HR Excellence in Research Award'. The DC will be enrolled in the “Mathematical Methods and Numerical Simulation in Engineering and Applied Sciences” Doctorate program offered by the University of Vigo.

**KU Leuven** boasts a rich tradition of education and research that dates back six centuries and received the European HR Excellence in Research Award based on its cur