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FlexCAT PhD in Germany 2027: Paid MSCA Position at Göttingen
FlexCAT Paid PhD in Peptide-Derived β-Catenin Inhibitors at Göttingen 2027
8 min read
NBy Naman Kumar
Page Summary⌄
Paid MSCA PhD: Three-year, full-time doctoral employment at Georg August University Göttingen.
Research area: Peptide-derived β-catenin inhibitors, peptide synthesis, protein biochemistry and Wnt signalling.
Eligibility: Relevant Master’s degree, no existing doctorate, English B2 or above, and relevant laboratory experience.
Mobility rule: Applicants must not have lived or carried out their main activity in Germany for more than 12 of the previous 36 months.
Deadline: 31 October 2026; expected start between January and March 2027.
Table of Contents
Georg August University Göttingen is recruiting a doctoral candidate for the FlexCAT Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network to work on the structure-based design of peptide-derived β-catenin inhibitors.
The position is a full-time, three-year paid PhD funded through Horizon Europe MSCA. The project combines peptide and organic synthesis, protein biochemistry, structural biology and cell-based assays.
Applicants of all nationalities can apply, but the MSCA mobility rule applies. Applications close on 31 October 2026, with the selected candidate expected to start between January and March 2027.
PhD Position at a Glance
Information
Details
Project
Structure-based design of novel peptide-derived β-catenin inhibitors
Network
FlexCAT MSCA Doctoral Network
Institution
Georg August University Göttingen
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Location
Göttingen, Germany
Research field
Chemistry / Biochemistry
Position type
Full-time doctoral employment
Working hours
40 hours/week
Contract duration
3 years
Funding
MSCA Living + Mobility Allowance
Family allowance
Available where applicable
Degree requirement
Relevant Master’s degree or equivalent
English
Minimum B2
Application deadline
31 October 2026
Expected start
January–March 2027
The project is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks programme through Horizon Europe. FlexCAT runs from 2027 to 2030 and focuses on developing new ways to study and therapeutically target flexible and intrinsically disordered protein regions.
What is the FlexCAT PhD project about?
The Göttingen project focuses on developing peptide-derived inhibitors of β-catenin, an important protein involved in Wnt signalling.
Abnormal β-catenin signalling is associated with several diseases, including cancer. However, targeting proteins involved in flexible or disordered interaction regions can be difficult because they often lack the well-defined binding pockets targeted by conventional small-molecule drugs.
The aim of this PhD project is therefore to identify and optimise peptide molecules that bind to β-catenin and interfere with its biological activity.
The research will initially use different peptide sequences to identify the core regions responsible for binding to β-catenin.
Promising candidates will then be modified and tested to improve their affinity, stability and ability to inhibit Wnt signalling.
What will you work on during the PhD?
The project combines several experimental areas.
Your research may include:
- solid-phase peptide synthesis - organic synthesis - fluorescence-polarisation binding assays - handling and characterisation of proteins - isothermal titration calorimetry - peptide and protein interaction studies - protein X-ray crystallography - peptidomimetic design - cell-based reporter assays - analysis of Wnt-signalling inhibition.
One objective is to identify high-affinity peptide binders of β-catenin and develop modified peptides that can function as potential inhibitors in biological systems.
The project is supervised at Georg August University Göttingen by Prof. Tom N. Grossmann’s research environment, which also publicly confirms recruitment for FlexCAT doctoral candidates.
How is the PhD funded?
The position is funded for three years through the Horizon Europe FlexCAT MSCA Doctoral Network.
The remuneration package includes:
- an MSCA Living Allowance - an MSCA Mobility Allowance - a Family Allowance, where applicable.
The living allowance is adjusted using the applicable country correction coefficient.
All allowances are subject to taxes and social-security contributions under the applicable rules.
The vacancy does not publish an exact monthly gross or net salary, so applicants should not assume a fixed amount from generic MSCA salary tables.
Who can apply?
Applicants must hold, or be close to completing, a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent scientific qualification.
Suitable academic backgrounds may include:
- chemistry - biochemistry - chemical biology - molecular biology - peptide chemistry - organic chemistry - related scientific fields.
Candidates should have excellent academic results and sufficient qualifications to meet the doctoral admission requirements at the University of Göttingen.
Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree when recruited.
What research experience is required?
This specific project looks for candidates with experience in:
The EURAXESS listing also categorises the expected research experience as approximately 1–4 years, although no fixed minimum duration is given in the project-specific requirements.
Can international students apply?
Yes.Applicants of any nationality are welcome.
However, MSCA Doctoral Networks apply a strict mobility rule.
At the time of recruitment, you must not have lived, worked or studied in Germany for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months.
Short holidays, compulsory national service and time spent obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are excluded from this calculation.
This means an international applicant who has already been studying or working in Germany for more than 12 months during the relevant three-year period may not be eligible for this particular Göttingen MSCA position.
Can I apply for this MSCA PhD if I already live in Germany?
Yes. Living in Germany does not automatically make you ineligible. What matters is how long you have resided in Germany or carried out your main activity there during the 36 months immediately before your recruitment date.
For this Göttingen position, you are generally eligible only if that period in Germany does not exceed 12 months.
What does the MSCA 12/36-month mobility rule mean?
The rule means that, at the time you are recruited, you must not have lived, worked or studied in Germany for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months.
For example, if your employment starts on 1 February 2027, the programme would look back over the 36 months immediately before that recruitment date and calculate how much qualifying time you spent in Germany.
Short holidays do not normally count. Compulsory national service and time spent obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are also excluded under the MSCA rules.
Are international students eligible for the FlexCAT PhD?
Yes. FlexCAT and MSCA Doctoral Networks allow applicants of any nationality, provided they meet the academic requirements, doctoral-candidate requirements and the MSCA mobility rule.
For this position, applicants must also meet the host institution’s doctoral-admission requirements and must not already hold a doctoral degree when recruited.
Does studying in Germany count toward the 12-month mobility limit?
Yes. MSCA explicitly counts a candidate’s main activity, including work and studies, when applying the mobility rule.
So if you have been enrolled and studying in Germany for more than 12 months during the relevant previous 36-month period, you may not qualify for this Göttingen position.
Can I apply if I moved to Germany less than a year ago?
Potentially yes. If your total qualifying residence, work and study activity in Germany stays at 12 months or less within the 36 months immediately before recruitment, you can still satisfy the MSCA mobility rule.
However, the calculation is based on the recruitment date, not simply the application deadline. If you continue living or studying in Germany between applying and starting the PhD, those additional months can affect your eligibility.
What are the English requirements?
Applicants must demonstrate a strong command of written and spoken English.
The official FlexCAT recruitment criteria specify: Minimum English level: B2
Candidates must be able to communicate scientific results clearly in writing, presentations and international research environments.
German is not listed as a requirement for this position.
International research stay
The Göttingen doctoral candidate is expected to complete a planned three-month secondment at the University of Sussex.
The purpose of the secondment is to investigate the cellular safety and toxicity of the developed compounds.
Secondments are an important part of MSCA Doctoral Networks because candidates receive research training across institutions and countries rather than working exclusively at one university.
Looking for chemistry and biochemistry programmes in Germany?
Explore universities and degree programmes related to chemistry, biochemistry and molecular sciences.
Applicants must submit the information requested through the FlexCAT recruitment portal.
The required application materials include:
- motivation statement for the selected doctoral project - detailed CV - publication list, if applicable - Bachelor’s diploma and academic records - Master’s diploma and academic records - contact details for two referees.
Applicants nearing completion of their Master’s degree can still be eligible if they will meet the doctoral-entry requirements before recruitment.
How to apply for the FlexCAT PhD
Applications are accepted only through the official FlexCAT recruitment portal.
Step 1 — Check the mobility rule
Before preparing your application, calculate how much time you have spent living, studying or working in Germany during the 36 months before the expected recruitment date.
Step 2 — Review the research project
Make sure your academic and laboratory experience matches peptide or organic synthesis and protein-biochemistry work.
Step 3 — Prepare your documents
Prepare your motivation statement, CV, academic records and two referee contacts.
Step 4 — Submit the online application
Applications must be completed through the FlexCAT recruitment portal:
phd-recruiting.medunigraz.at
Applications sent directly by email are not the official application route.
Application Deadline and Selection Timeline
Application deadline: 31 October 2026
The official recruitment schedule lists the following timeline:
Stage
Date
Applications opened
15 September 2026
Application deadline
31 October 2026
Online pre-interviews
Early November 2026
Final interviews
Late November / early December 2026
Offers
Mid-December 2026
Expected start
January–March 2027
Applications are assessed for eligibility and scientific quality before shortlisted candidates are invited to interview. Final selection follows MSCA open, transparent and merit-based recruitment principles.
Important things to know before applying
The mobility rule is critical. Even an academically strong candidate may be ineligible if they have spent more than 12 months in Germany during the previous 36 months.
This is paid doctoral employment, not a traditional scholarship. Funding is provided through the MSCA Doctoral Network remuneration system.
You must not already hold a PhD. MSCA Doctoral Candidate positions are intended for researchers who have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree.
The salary is not published as one fixed amount. The official listing confirms MSCA Living, Mobility and potentially Family Allowances but does not publish the final gross or net monthly payment.
The EURAXESS page currently also shows an “expired” status label despite displaying a 31 October 2026 deadline. Applicants should therefore verify that the FlexCAT recruitment portal is accepting submissions before preparing a last-minute application.
