A PhD in fungal metabolic engineering has opened at LIST in Luxembourg, working on fungal pathways that produce compounds of industrial value. The contract runs 48 months and pays €3,521.71 gross a month over 13 months, which comes to €45,782.23 a year. Applications close on 13 September 2026.
Summary details: PhD in fungal metabolic engineering at LIST
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Position | PhD Student, Fungal Metabolic Engineering (reference SD-26121) |
| Field | Fungal metabolic pathways, enzyme optimisation, strain development |
| Institution | LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), Hautcharage / Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg |
| Salary | €3,521.71 gross per month, paid over 13 months (€45,782.23 a year) |
| Duration | 48 months, split as 14 + 22 + 12 month contract periods, 40 hours a week |
| Application Deadline | 13 September 2026, with applications reviewed as they arrive until the post is filled |
| Degree required | Master’s or equivalent in molecular biology or biotechnology |
About the position
The post sits inside FUNG-FACTORY, a PEARL project led by Ronald de Vries with a team of around ten people, which develops fungal cell factories that produce enzymes and metabolites. Within that, the PhD in fungal metabolic engineering takes on the pathway work. You identify fungal metabolic pathways that lead to compounds of biotechnological value, then manipulate them. From there the project widens: individual enzymes along those pathways get characterised and optimised, and fungal strains are built to produce at the best rate possible. Downstream processing is part of the brief too, so the work does not stop once a strain performs. You enrol as a doctoral candidate at the University of Luxembourg in Belval while employed at LIST.
Research areas and focus
| Area | Focus |
|---|---|
| Metabolic engineering | Identifying and manipulating fungal pathways that yield biotechnology-relevant compounds |
| Enzymology | Characterising and optimising the individual enzymes in those pathways |
| Strain development | Building fungal strains that reach optimal production levels |
| Downstream processing | Recovering and handling the compounds after production |
| Fungal cell factories | The wider FUNG-FACTORY programme on enzyme and metabolite production |
What you will do
- Identify fungal metabolic pathways behind compounds of biotechnological interest
- Manipulate those pathways to change what the fungus produces
- Characterise and optimise individual pathway enzymes
- Develop fungal strains that hit optimal production levels
- Address downstream processing alongside the strain work
- Register as a doctoral candidate at the University of Luxembourg, Belval
Who can apply
- Master’s degree or equivalent in molecular biology or biotechnology
- Hands-on experience with molecular biology and biochemistry methods
- Bioinformatics experience is welcome but optional
- Experience with fungi is welcome but optional
- Willingness to work alone and in a team, plus strong communication skills
- Motivation, scientific curiosity and creativity
- Strong written and spoken English
Eligibility criteria
- Luxembourg has to recognize your Master’s diploma before you can enroll. Once hired, you register at the University of Luxembourg yourself and pay the fees, currently 400 EUR per semester as of April 2026.
- The advert states that a B2 English certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL is mandatory unless your Master’s was taught fully in English, while the vacancy’s details panel lists C1 for reading, writing and speaking, so check which one the recruiter applies before you sit an exam.
- LIST also notes that the selected candidate may face a background check, and that export control rules can add further restrictions.
What is offered
- €3,521.71 gross per month, paid over 13 months, on a 40 hour week
- 32 days of paid annual leave and 11 public holidays
- Statutory health insurance
- Flexible working hours and a home working policy, although the job is not remote
- Digital lunch vouchers
- Personalised learning programme covering technical and soft skills
- Laboratory space of more than 5,000 square metres
How to apply
- Prepare a motivation letter written for this position, a scientific CV with contact details, a list of publications and any patents, and contact details for two referees.
- Apply through the LIST online HR system, quoting reference SD-26121. LIST does not consider applications sent by email.
- An assessment committee reviews applications as they arrive and the vacancy stays open until it is filled, so early submission helps.
Deadline: 13 September 2026.
Related opportunities
Source: LIST job offers, reference SD-26121