15 Fully Funded PhD Positions Across Europe – ORFeus Doctoral Network 2026

15 Fully Funded PhD Positions Across Europe – ORFeus Doctoral Network 2026

Programme: ORFeus Doctoral Network
Funding: European Union – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), Horizon Europe
Number of Positions: 15
Study Level: PhD
Duration: 36 months (3 years)
Application Opens: 1 October 2026
Application Deadline: 22 October 2026, 23:59 CEST
Expected Start: Around March 2027
Eligible Applicants: Candidates of all nationalities

About the Programme

The ORFeus Doctoral Network is recruiting 15 fully funded doctoral researchers to investigate the dark proteome — proteins and peptides produced from overlooked regions of the genome, particularly small open reading frames (smORFs).

The programme brings together leading European universities, research institutions, industry partners, and international advisers to advance research into microproteins and their potential roles in human disease.

The research explores how these hidden proteins are produced, how they function, and how they could contribute to the development of cancer diagnostics, immunotherapies, vaccines, and other medical applications.

Each doctoral researcher will join a leading research group and benefit from interdisciplinary training, experienced supervision, workshops, residential schools, and an industry placement.

Research Areas

The 15 doctoral projects cover a range of scientific disciplines, including:

• Computational biology and artificial intelligence

• Bioinformatics and computational genomics

• Proteomics and mass spectrometry

• Structural biology

• Evolutionary genomics

• Immunology

• Cancer research

• Microprotein discovery and characterization

• Machine learning and biological data analysis

Participating Institutions

The projects are hosted by research groups across Europe, including:

• University of Southampton, United Kingdom

• Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Germany

• University of Oslo, Norway

• The Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom

• University of Freiburg, Germany

• Hubrecht Institute, Netherlands

• University of Leeds, United Kingdom

• Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Spain

• Ghent University, Belgium

• University of Dundee, United Kingdom

• University College Cork, Ireland

• Princess Máxima Center, Netherlands

• Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands

• University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Funding and Benefits

All 15 positions are fully funded through the European Union's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Successful candidates will receive:

• A full employment contract for 36 months.

• A salary and allowances determined by MSCA rules and the host country's applicable rates.

• A living allowance.

• A mobility allowance.

• A family allowance, where applicable.

• Fully funded network training activities, including travel and accommodation.

• An approximately three-month industry placement.

• A shorter academic secondment, primarily virtual.

• Supervision from academic and industry experts.

• Opportunities to participate in international workshops, conferences, and residential schools.

The exact gross salary varies depending on the host country.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

1. Must not already hold a PhD degree.

2. Must have a master's degree or an equivalent qualification granting access to doctoral studies by the time the position begins.

3. Must satisfy the MSCA mobility rule: applicants must not have lived, worked, or studied in the country of their chosen host institution for more than 12 months during the three years immediately preceding recruitment.

4. Applicants of all nationalities are welcome.

5. Must demonstrate academic excellence, research potential, motivation, and communication skills.

The required research background varies by project. Applicants are not expected to have expertise in every discipline covered by the network.

English is the working language of the programme. Fluency in the local language of the host country is not required.

Application Process

Applicants can apply for and rank up to three of the 15 PhD projects through the central application platform.

You do not need to apply separately to each host institution. However, a separate application must be completed for each project you wish to apply for.

Applying to more than three projects will make all applications ineligible.

Required Documents and Information:

• Eligibility details.

• CV.

• Official list of academic grades.

• Short experience checklist demonstrating relevant skills.

• Motivation statement for each selected project.

• Short motivational video.

• Names and contact details of two academic referees.

Reference letters will only be requested from candidates who progress to the full interview stage.

Selection Timeline

• 1–22 October 2026: Application period.

• Late October to mid-November 2026: Application review and shortlisting.

• Mid-to-late November 2026: Initial introductory calls.

• Early December 2026: Full interviews with supervisors.

• By the end of 2026: Expected communication of selection outcomes.

• Around March 2027: Expected commencement of positions.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should review the 15 research projects, confirm their eligibility, and submit their applications through the official recruitment platform.

Official Programme Website: https://www.orfeus-dn.eu/

Research Projects: https://www.orfeus-dn.eu/research/

Application Portal: https://orfeusresearch.teamtailor.com/jobs

Application Deadline: 22 October 2026, 23:59 CEST.

Applicants are encouraged to read the individual project descriptions and eligibility requirements carefully before applying.