The STEM-CORE Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme aims to explore strategies for developing stem cell therapies and biomaterials. As one of the doctoral candidates, you will receive comprehensive training to become a leading expert in regenerative medicine of the eye, through interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international research. Additionally, you will develop valuable transferable and soft skills, such as
management, leadership and communication.
Current vacancies:
Jo Zhou's team (Radboud University, the Netherlands)
Two vacancies for PhD candidates within the STEM-CORE project:
- PhD Position: Multi-Omics Characterisation of stem cell models for Corneal Regeneration (MSCA STEM-CORE) (application deadline: 18-01-2026)
- PhD Position: Computational Multi-Omics Characterisation for Corneal Regeneration (MSCA STEM-CORE) (application deadline: 18-01-2026)
STEM-CORE selection procedure
- MSCA mobility rules: the recruited researchers must comply with the following condition: NOT have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date — unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the
Geneva Convention.
- Screening: The eligibility of candidates will be verified by the prospective supervisors, the project manager, and their HR department. Candidates will be selected based on the following criteria: academic ability and experience with relevant technologies (curriculum vitae, course grades, and previous experience), scientific motivation (application letter) and potential to excel (reference letters). Candidates who are not selected will be notified.
- First interview: Interviews attended by their prospective (co-)supervisors will be held via online platforms. In general, for the first-round online interview, we will select 3-6 candidates, with a balanced gender representation. Candidates who are not selected for the second interview round will be notified.
- Second interview: The second round of interviews could be held in person, where the candidates are invited to present their relevant experience and expertise, and, potentially, previous research. Two or three candidates selected from the first-round online interview will be further evaluated by their prospective (co-)supervisors, e.g., secondment supervisors. Colleagues of the prospective supervisor’s organizations may also be invited to the interview. Candidates who are not selected for the second interview round will be notified.
Final evaluation: The final selection of a candidate will be made by the prospective supervisor, with input from the co-supervisor and colleagues. The positive or negative selection outcome will be communicated to all applicants. The selected top candidate will first be invited to negotiate and sign a contract.
We will adopt an open, efficient and transparent recruitment procedure, conforming to the ‘European Charter of Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers’, and no discrimination on gender, race, age, nationality, and ethnic or social origin will be tolerated.
