Three PhD Positions in Machine-Learning-Guided Directed Evolution, University of Groningen and TU Eindhoven (ML-GUIDE)

Job Description

The University of Groningen is offering three fully funded, four-year PhD positions in machine-learning-guided directed evolution in the ML-GUIDE project, which combines directed evolution, next-generation sequencing and deep learning to engineer peptide catalysts, cyclic-peptide drugs and biocatalysts. Two posts are in Groningen and one at TU Eindhoven.

At a glance

• Positions: Three fully funded PhD positions (four years: one year, then three more)
• Where: University of Groningen (Stratingh Institute for Chemistry) or Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
• Supervisors: Dr Robert Pollice (peptide catalysts, Groningen), Prof. Francesca Grisoni (cyclic-peptide drugs, TU/e), Prof. Clemens Mayer (biocatalysts, Groningen)
• Pay: €3,204–€4,051 gross a month plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• Apply: 15 October 2026 (23:59 Dutch time)

About the ML-GUIDE directed evolution PhD projects

• Run directed-evolution campaigns on one biomolecule and its function, within one of the three groups
• Read out libraries with next-generation sequencing and train deep-learning models on the results
• Close design-build-test-learn loops with active learning, steering evolution towards promising sequence space
• Work with the other two PhD students on what is shared, and what differs, across catalysts, drugs and enzymes

Project 1 (Pollice, Artificial Organic Chemistry Lab) targets peptide catalysts for carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions; project 2 (Grisoni, Molecular Machine Learning group at TU/e) designs cyclic-peptide drugs; project 3 (Mayer, Molecular Evolution group) aims to make the directed evolution of biocatalysts predictable by machine learning. Your cover letter must name the group you want to join.

The ad gives the preferred start as between 1 November 2026 and “01-03-2026”; the second date appears to be a typo, probably for 1 March 2027. Check with the university if your start date matters.

Why this role matters

Protein and peptide engineering is moving from trial-and-error screening to model-guided design, and people who can do both the wet-lab evolution and the machine learning are rare. These PhDs train exactly that mix, which is valued in biotech and pharma as well as academia.

What University of Groningen is looking for

• An MSc (or equivalent) in (bio)chemistry, biotechnology, computational chemistry, synthetic chemistry or biology, or a related field
• An interest in working in an interdisciplinary team across synthetic biology, molecular machine learning and synthetic chemistry
• A research-oriented attitude with good analytical skills
• Excellent communication and organisation skills

Nice to have

• Experience in directed evolution, molecular machine learning, next-generation sequencing or synthetic chemistry

Pay and location

The university offers €3,204 in the first year rising to €4,051 gross a month for a full-time PhD employee under the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities, plus an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The contract is for one year followed by three more years. No nationality restriction is stated in the ad.

How to apply

Apply through the official University of Groningen page. The closing date is 15 October 2026 (23:59 Dutch time). Apply through the university’s online form with a letter (motivation, key qualities and preferred group), a CV, BSc and MSc diplomas and transcripts, and contact details for two academic referees.

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