PhD position (Early Stage Researcher) in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network MENTOR DC10

MIMETAS is looking for a full-time Early Stage Researcher (ESR) to join our Model Development team in Leiden, the Netherlands. You will be responsible for the development of organ-on-a-chip-based tissue- and disease models. You will operate within a team of scientists and regularly report to internal and external stakeholders.  

About MIMETAS  

MIMETAS is a rapidly growing company that specializes in human disease modelling using organ-on-a-chip technology. We are on a mission to pioneer the first generation of medicines grounded entirely in human data, using our unique disease modelling platform that is human, comprehensive, and scalable. Our disease models are designed to discover new therapeutic approaches and bring more drugs to patients by reducing attrition, while lowering development costs. MIMETAS has an open culture, where achievements go hand in hand with a fun place to work. Our close-knit team stays successful by maintaining a good atmosphere while working in a highly competitive field. MIMETAS’ headquarters are based in Leiden, The Netherlands and our manufacturing facility is based in Enschede, The Netherlands. We have subsidiaries in Gaithersburg, MD, USA, and Tokyo, Japan.   

About MENTOR

MENTOR (MSCA Doctoral Network) – Advancing Research and Treatment of mTORopathies

MENTOR is a multi-disciplinary Doctoral Network funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Programme. The MENTOR Consortium brings together leading European scientists from academia and industry to investigate the mTOR (mammalian/mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin) network—a central signaling hub that integrates nutritional cues to regulate cell growth and metabolism.

Dysregulated mTOR activity is implicated in a wide range of diseases, from common age-related conditions such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes to rare genetic disorders known as mTORopathies. These conditions, characterized by tumor formation, polycystic kidneys, and neurological manifestations, pose significant challenges for healthcare.

MENTOR aims to uncover novel mechanistic insights into mTORopathies, driving progress in personalized medicine and paving the way for new therapeutic strategies in both rare and age-related diseases. Through cutting-edge research and comprehensive training, MENTOR will equip 18 doctoral candidates with the skills and expertise to make a lasting impact in academia, biotechnology, and translational medicine.

Here we specifically advertise DC position 10 “Kidney on a chip for kidney mTORopathies research”. The selected PhD candidate will be affiliated with Utrecht University. For a full overview of all available doctoral positions, please visit: https://mentor-program.eu/

Your tasks will include 

• Development and implementation of novel organ- and disease models (specifically kidney);
• Model validation (e.g. by performing compound challenges, immunoassays, using state-of-the art cell-based and molecular assays);
• Plan and execute experiments independently;
• Report on a regular basis to internal stakeholders;
• Disseminate your research in peer-reviewed journal
• Write standard operating procedures;
• Contribute to general lab duties.

Your profile 

• You want to work in the lab in multi-disciplinary teams to tackle tough tissue modeling problems
• You have a master’s degree in biology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical sciences, bio-engineering, or a related field; 
• You are experienced in high quality tissue culture, (confocal) microscopy and image analysis software;
• You have experience with (live) cell-based assays and molecular analysis techniques (incl qPCR, ELISA, IF);
• Your work is of high quality, you work accurately and safely;  
• You are a motivated, flexible, and positive team player; 
• You have excellent communication skills in English. 
• You have a passion to support new therapy discovery and development, and have an affinity to work in an international, fast-growing high-tech environment at the edge of industry and academia

Additional Doctoral Network Requirements

• You must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment
• You must not have resided in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date, and not have carried out your main activity – work, studies, etc. – in the Netherlands.
• You should be able to start preferably not later than September 1^st, 2025
• You should be eligible to work in the European Union

We offer 

• A challenging, full-time position; 
• Challenging research projects on breakthrough science; 
• Ample opportunities for personal development and growth; 
• Dissemination of your research at the international stage; 
• A competitive salary with benefits, such as a pension plan, all in line with EU guidelines,
• A fun team with colleagues from all over the world who love what they do; 
• Friday afternoon drinks as part of an extensive program of social activities. 

Applications 

Interested in this position? Please apply via https://mentor-program.eu/  with your application including completed application form with all required information, letter and resume together with a scanned copy of all relevant diplomas or certificates that formally entitle you to embark on a doctorate, and two letters of recommendations and contact details of two referees.  

Applications sent via email will not be reviewed or considered. Please follow the official application procedure to ensure your application is properly evaluated. We do not appreciate recruiter solicitations in response to this vacancy.