A 4-year, fully-funded PhD position opportunity is open to Chinese nationals to conduct doctoral research in the Evolutionary Systems Genetics of Microbes Lab at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain).

Research topic: “Evolution-proof engineering approaches for plant-associated microbes”

The position will be funded by the China Scholarship Council and the Technical University of Madrid (Spain) Cooperative PhD Programme. Up to 20 scholarships are available in this call, each offering 100% of tuition fees for the full duration of the PhD studies (4 years) a grant for living costs and one return flight from China.

The successful candidate will join a multicultural research team focused on understanding evolutionary principles of microbial evolution. She/he will employ a combination of cutting-edge experimental and computational approaches to find ways to anticipate and prevent the evolution of microbes of interest in agriculture (both harmful and beneficial). Strong candidates will show previous experience in plant-microbe interaction assays and/or genetic engineering of bacteria. Bioinformatics expertise will considered a plus.

Candidates should hold a MSc in a relevant field (i.e. molecular biology, microbiology, evolutionary genetics and genomics, biotechnology). In addition, they should show proof of English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90, this requirement is waived if English is the only language of instruction for your current or previous level of studies).

How to apply

Interested candidates please send a single PDF file with a cover letter and a CV including publications if any to a.couce@upm.es. Please include the word “EvolProofPhD” in the subject line.

Application deadline is January 31th although early applications are strongly encouraged. Candidates short-listed for interview will be additionally requested up to two recommendation letters.