PhD Position in Microbial Metabolism and Discovery of Enzyme Functions in Carbon

The position will be hosted by the Lab of Microbial Metabolic Interactions, embedded in both the KU Leuven Biology department and VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology. Here we have a multidisciplinary research group working at the interface of microbiology, metabolomics, and systems biology. The group focuses on understanding how microbial metabolic processes contribute to environmental carbon cycling, with a particular interest in marine heterotrophic bacteria.

Website van de eenheid

Project

• We are seeking a motivated PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary research project investigating how microorganisms process carbon in dynamic environments. The project focuses on uncovering the functional roles of metabolic enzymes in marine heterotrophic bacteria that contribute to carbon cycling.
• The successful candidate will work with environmentally relevant microbial systems and apply a combination of experimental approaches including microbial cultivation under controlled nutrient conditions, enzyme activity assays, and high-throughput metabolomics. The aim of the project is to directly link enzyme activity to metabolic function during environmental perturbations, and to identify how microbial metabolic pathways respond to changing carbon availability.
• The project will involve collaboration with external proteomics facilities and data analysis partners to integrate time-resolved multi-omic datasets and generate new insights into enzyme function and metabolic regulation in environmental microbes.

Profile

• A Master’s degree in microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, systems biology, or a related field
• Interest in microbial metabolism, enzyme function, or environmental microbiology
• Experience with microbiological techniques or biochemical assays is an asset
• Interest in working with metabolomics or other omics approaches
• Strong motivation to work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment
• Good communication skills and proficiency in English

Offer

• We offer a fully funded PhD position within an international and collaborative research environment
• The candidate will receive training in microbial physiology, enzyme activity measurements, and metabolomics-based functional analysis
• The position provides access to state-of-the-art metabolomics and proteomics facilities and opportunities for collaboration with leading research groups in systems biology and environmental microbiology

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Sammy Pontrelli, mail: sammy.pontrelli@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than May 14, 2026 via the online application tool