Doctoral Candidate Position (m/f/d)
Introduction
About FAroGelsFAroGels – Food-Grade Aerogels for Sustainable Food Systems is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral
Network funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe. The network brings together academic and non-academic
partners with complementary expertise in food science and technology, materials science, biopolymer science,
biotechnology, process engineering, analytical characterization, packaging and sustainable innovation. FAroGels aims
to develop, characterize and validate food-grade, bio-based and biodegradable aerogels for sustainable food systems. The
network will investigate how these highly porous materials can support more efficient food processing, improved food
quality and safety, nutritional and sensory functionality, protection and delivery of bioactive compounds, and sustainable
packaging solutions.
About the Host and PhD Awarding Institution(s)/Organizations
Your tasks
Position Description This position forms part of the FAroGels research program on food-grade, bio-based, and biodegradable aerogels and
their application in sustainable food systems. The selected candidate will be employed by MyBiotech GmbH and will be
required to enroll as a PhD student Saarland University, in accordance with the relevant admission and enrolment
requirements.
The doctoral project will focus on developing hybrid biopolymer aerogels based on food-compatible materials such as
chitosan, alginate and xanthan as multifunctional carriers for nutraceuticals. The project will design aerogels with tunable
porosity and tailored surface chemistry to improve nutraceutical encapsulation and stability, mask off-flavours and
enable controlled release under digestion-relevant conditions. Food-grade purification, processing and bench-scale
fabrication workflows will also be optimised to support future industrial translation.
The performance of the developed systems will be evaluated by quantifying encapsulation efficiency, oxidative stability
and release kinetics . Promising formulations will subsequently be evaluated in practical formats, including capsules, dry
blends and nutraceutical-enriched foods. Within FAroGels , DC6 will provide a validated hybrid aerogel platform for
stabilising and delivering selected nutraceuticals, together with quantitative performance datasets, structure–function
maps and bench-scale fabrication and evaluation protocols.
The position will involve laboratory-based research, data analysis, scientific communication and close collaboration with
other FAroGels Doctoral Candidates, supervisors and partner organizations.
Main Responsibilities The Doctoral Candidate will be expected to: • Conduct research on the design, development and characterisation of hybrid biopolymer aerogels for the
encapsulation, stabilisation and controlled release of selected nutraceuticals.
Plan, perform, document and analyse experimental work using relevant laboratory, analytical, processing and/or
modelling methods.
Participate actively in FAroGels network meetings, workshops, training schools, seminars and transferable-skills
activities.
Undertake planned secondments at FAroGels partner organisations, as specified for the DC project.
Work collaboratively with academic and non-academic partners across the FAroGels network.
Prepare scientific reports, project deliverables, presentations, publications and, where relevant, other dissemination
or exploitation-related outputs.
Your profile
Requirements
Educational Background : Master’s degree (or equivalent) in life science (included but not limited to chemistry,
pharmacy, biotechnology, etc) or related field.
Skills : Strong laboratory and analytical skills in biopolymer processing, encapsulation, physicochemical
characterisation, spectroscopy, and data analysis.
Languages : Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required.
Strong motivation to pursue doctoral research in an international and interdisciplinary environment.
Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative research activities.
Good organization, communication and problem-solving skills.
Willingness to travel for planned secondments, network meetings and training activities.
MSCA Doctoral Network Eligibility Criteria
Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. At the date of recruitment, applicants must meet the following MSCA
Doctoral Network requirements:
Doctoral candidate status: Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. Applicants who have successfully
defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.
PhD enrolment: Doctoral Candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral
degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. For this position, this is the doctoral
programme at Saarland University, applicants must therefore meet its admission requirements.
Institution-specific requirements: Basic knowledge of data analysis and proficiency in Microsoft Office. German
knowledge is a plus.
Visa and residence permit: a visa or residence/work permit is not required at the application stage and is not a
selection criterion. Where needed, it will be arranged after selection and before the start of employment, with the
support of the recruiting organisation. Candidates from non-EU countries are equally welcome to apply.
ItemInformation
Relevant faculty / department Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology
Recognised Master of Science degree (normally corresponding to at least 300
ECTS credits obtained through Bachelor's and Master's studies). For international
degrees, the awarding institution should ideally have H+ status in the anabin
PhD admission and enrolment database or be otherwise recognised as equivalent to a German university. The
requirements programme should include a research-oriented curriculum, practical/research
experience, and a Master's thesis comparable to the standards of a German
Master's thesis. Final eligibility is subject to approval by the faculty at Saarland
University.
We offer
DC[6] – Hybrid Aerogel-Microencapsulation for Nutraceutical Stability and Delivery
Position DC6: Hybrid Aerogel-Microencapsulation for Nutraceutical Stability and Delivery
Project FAroGels – Food-Grade Aerogels for Sustainable Food Systems
Funding programme Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01)
Grant Agreement number 101312450
Recruiting/Host organisation MyBiotech GmbH, Research & Development, Überherrn, Germany
PhD awarding institution Saarland University, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarbrücken, Germany
Type of contract Fixed-term employment contract, 36 months
Job status Full-time (100%)
Application deadline 09 December 2026, 23:59 (CET)
Expected start date March 2027 (earliest)
FAroGels – DC Position | Page 1 of 6
Supervisory Team
The Doctoral Candidate will be supervised by a team combining academic and non-academic expertise:
RoleNameOrganisationCountry
Main supervisor Dr. Nazende Günday-Türeli MyBiotech GmbH (MyB) Prof. Marc Schneider Universitat des Saarlandes (USAAR) Germany
Academic co-supervisor Dr. Akif Emre Türeli MyBiotech GmbH (MyB) Germany
Industry supervisor Main supervisor is non-academic.
Planned Secondments
As part of the training programme, the Doctoral Candidate will complete planned secondments at FAroGels partner
organisations:
Host organisationSectorCountryDuration
Universita degli Studi di Udine (UNIUD) Academic Italy 2 months
Middle East Technical University (METU) Academic Türkiye 1 month
Pard Mühendislik ve Otomasyon Sanayi Ticaret Limited Sirketi
(Superex) Non-academic Türkiye 1 month
BKEA LTD. (BKEA) Non-academic Malta 1 month
Gurok Turizm ve Madencilik A.S. (AVOYA) Non-academic Türkiye 1 month
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, M.P.
(Spanish National Research Council, CSIC) Academic Spain 1 month
Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany
for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service,
short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva
Convention or EU temporary protection are not taken into account. Compliance is verified before the start of
employment, on the basis of the candidate’s passport and, where necessary, other documents.
FAroGels – DC Position | Page 2 of 6
What FAroGels Offers
A full-time doctoral position funded through the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network.
A fixed-term employment contract for 36 months at MyBiotech GmbH.
A competitive salary and employment conditions in accordance with the MSCA Doctoral Networks funding
provisions, applicable national legislation and the policies of MyB.
Social-security coverage and other employment-related benefits in accordance with the applicable national and
institutional framework.
A Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP), prepared with the supervisory team and reviewed and updated during
the project.
Access to research facilities, infrastructure, training and support services at the Host Institution and within the
FAroGels network.
Participation in a structured doctoral training programme including scientific and technical training, transferable
skills, career development and innovation-oriented activities.
Planned secondments at FAroGels partner organizations, offering complementary scientific, technical and cross-
sectoral experience.
An international research environment and opportunities to build a professional network across academia and non-
academic organizations.
Salary and Financial Package
This position is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01, Grant
Agreement No. 101312450). The salary is based on the following monthly MSCA allowances:
Living allowance: EUR 4,010, adjusted by the country correction coefficient of the country of the recruiting
organisation to ensure equal treatment and comparable purchasing power for all researchers.
Mobility allowance: EUR 710, contributing to mobility-related costs such as relocation and travel.
Family allowance (if applicable): EUR 660, paid for the months in which the Doctoral Candidate has a family
during the project, including where family obligations arise after recruitment. ‘Family’ means persons linked to the
researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status recognised by the legislation of the country where it
was formalised) or dependent children actually being maintained by the researcher. The allowance is paid in
accordance with the rules of the recruiting organisation, and supporting documents may be requested.
Monthly MSCA allowances for this position
ComponentCalculation (per month)
Living allowance EUR 4,010 × [country correction coefficient = 101.2%] (see guidance below)
Mobility allowance Fixed amount = EUR 710.00
Total without family allowance Living + mobility allowance
Total with family allowance Living + mobility + EUR 660
Please note: the amounts above represent the total employment cost, from which the employer’s and the employee’s
compulsory social-security contributions and taxes are deducted in accordance with national law. Unless the recruiting
organisation provides additional funding, the gross salary paid to the Doctoral Candidate is therefore lower than these
amounts, and the net salary depends on personal circumstances.
Country correction coefficients of the FAroGels beneficiaries
CountryCCCLiving allowance+ mobility (EUR + family (EUR 710)660)
Türkiye 64.5% 2,586.45 3,296.45 3,956.45
Poland 74.1% 2,971.41 3,681.41 4,341.41
Italy 95.3% 3,821.53 4,531.53 5,191.53
Spain 95.6% 3,833.56 4,543.56 5,203.56
FAroGels – DC Position | Page 3 of 6
CountryCCCLiving allowance+ mobility (EUR + family (EUR 710)660)
Germany 101.2% 4,058.12 4,768.12 5,428.12
Finland 118.0% 4,731.80 5,441.80 6,101.80
United Kingdom 141.7% 5,682.17 6,392.17 7,052.17
Employment conditions: the Doctoral Candidate will be hired full-time (100%) by the recruiting organisation on a 36-
month employment contract, with social-security coverage under national law that continues during secondments.
Funding Duration and PhD Completion
This Doctoral Candidate position is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network for a maximum period of 36
months.
The overall period required to complete a PhD degree may, depending on the regulations of the PhD awarding
institution and applicable national requirements, extend beyond the 36-month FAroGels funding period.
Please note: any employment, scholarship or other financial support beyond the 36-month FAroGels funding period is
not covered or guaranteed by FAroGels. Any potential continuation of employment or funding would need to be
considered separately between the relevant institution and the Doctoral Candidate, subject to institutional regulations
and the availability of funds.
For further information about MyBiotech GmbH please visit www.mybiotech.de .
The successful candidate must fulfil the admission and enrolment requirements of USAAR.
Equal Opportunities and Data Protection FAroGels and MyBiotech GmbH are committed to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion. Applications from all
qualified candidates are welcome, irrespective of gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnic or social
origin, nationality, disability, age, religion or belief.
Personal data submitted with applications will be processed by MyBiotech GmbH exclusively for recruitment purposes
and in accordance with the applicable data-protection legislation and institutional privacy policies.
General information on FAroGels: https://farogels.eu/
This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie
Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks, Grant Agreement No. 101312450.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not
necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the
European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
FAroGels – DC
Contact
Official PhD admission / Doctoral research and PhD programmes | Universität des Saarlandes / Enrolling
enrolment webpage or registering as a doctoral research student | Early Career Office | Universität des Saarlandes
Yes. Applicants must submit a short project proposal (approximately 2 pages,
including a preliminary timeline), the required application forms signed by the
Separate PhD application or applicant, the PhD supervisor, and a second faculty supervisor. In addition, an
enrolment procedure evaluation letter from the Master's thesis supervisor is required to assess the equivalence of the Master's degree and thesis. There are no fixed application
deadlines; applications can be submitted throughout the year. The process is
managed by the faculty/doctoral office.
Recognition of foreign
qualifications Please check anabin: Information portal on foreign educational qualifications
Proof of English language proficiency may be required if the applicant does not
possess sufficient German language skills or if requested by the faculty.
Applicants must provide certified copies of their academic documents and present
the original documents for verification during enrolment. Health insurance is
Additional requirements required for enrolment. Doctoral candidates who choose to enrol as students must pay the semester fee (please check Fees | Universität des Saarlandes). There are
enrolment and re-registration deadlines each semester; however, doctoral
candidates may alternatively register as a doctoral researcher without full student
enrolment. A combined doctoral registration/enrolment option ("Freemover") is
available and may involve an additional administrative fee.
FAroGels – DC Position | Page 4 of 6
Application Documents
Applicants are strongly advised to read the position description and the eligibility criteria carefully before applying. Each
application must include:
A detailed curriculum vitae (education, research experience, technical skills and relevant achievements), including
the dates and countries of residence, studies and employment for the last 36 months.
A motivation letter explaining your interest in this specific DC position, your relevant background and your suitability
for the project.
Copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas and academic transcripts, or evidence that the Master’s degree will be
completed before the recruitment date.
Contact details of two referees and reference letters according to the requirements of MyBiotech GmbH.
Proof of English-language proficiency, if required by the PhD awarding institution.
Incomplete applications may not be considered.
How to Apply Applications for this position must be submitted through both of the following channels:
- send a complete CV and a letter of motivation (up to 2 pages) stating the research experience and interest and
name and contact information of at least two referees providing recommendation letter to n.guenday-
tuereli@mybiotech.de and Ms. Anke Wagner-Schon, Head of HR, at a.wagner-schon@mybiotech.de . Please
use the formula “ FAroGels – Application DC6 ” in the object of your correspondence. Additionally, copies of
diplomas and list of courses taken, and grade obtained as well as proof of English level needs to be included in
the application.
Any other information you deem relevant for application purpose may be included in the application (e.g. pdf
of a recent scientific publication, extra curriculum activities, certificates).
Eligible applicants will undergo a pre-selection evaluation based on the CV, experience and skills. Short-listed
applicants will be invited for an interview with the evaluation committee members.
- FAroGels online application form – in addition, please complete the application form at
https://farogels.eu/apply/ and upload the same documents there.
Indicative timeline
Application deadline: 09 December 2026, 23:59 (CET)
Interviews: January 2027
Evaluation: February 2027
Selection outcome: February 2027
Expected start of employment: March 2027 (earliest)
Please note: Applicants should ensure that all required documents are submitted before the stated deadline. Please note
that a separate PhD admission and/or enrolment procedure may apply at MyB.
Selection Process
FAroGels follows an open, transparent and merit-based recruitment process in line with the European Charter for
Researchers:
Eligibility check by the FAroGels Project Manager.
Evaluation of the eligible applications by an Interview Committee (primary supervisor, co-supervisor(s) and a
representative of a non-academic partner) with a standardised scoring matrix; the three to five best-ranked candidates
are shortlisted.
Online interview with the shortlisted candidates.
Approvalof the selection by the FAroGels Supervisory Board, after which an offer is made.
All applicants are informed of the outcome and receive feedback on request.
Contact Information Interested candidates are strongly advised to carefully read the job description and eligibility criteria before applying.
For inquiries, please contact:
FAroGels – DC Position | Page 5 of 6
Email: myb.pmt@mybiotech.de
Email object: FAroGels – Information DC6
General questions about FAroGels and the recruitment process: FAroGels Project Management Team, Middle
East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Türkiye – farogels@metu.edu.tr