The doc.fund “Molecular Metabolism” is an international PhD training program for outstanding students in the molecular biosciences, who wish to Learn and Explore the Scientific field of "Molecular Metabolism" (MOBILES).

MOBILES was approved as 1 out of 6 Austrian consortia for a 4-year funding period starting in 10/2019 by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

Applications to the program are currently accepted (see our “Open Positions” and “Applications Guidelines”).

The doc.fund “Molecular Metabolism” (MOBILES) aims to provide outstanding scientific training to exceptional young scientists in different areas of molecular biology, infection biology and biochemistry.

The program is offered by the University of Graz and currently hosts 10 investigators (FACULTY).

Based on these areas of expertise, dissertation research within the program addresses questions relevant to

• diet- and age-related changes in metabolism,
• regulation of lipid metabolism and
• bacterial modulators of metabolism.

Due to the expertise of our consortium, diverse model organisms [bacteria, yeast, cell culture, fly & mouse, (BYCFM)] or combinations thereof will be employed to best address each of the MOBILES research questions.

For details please see the project descriptions of our “open positions”.

The program is interdisciplinary in nature with prominent contributions from

• biochemistry
• microbiology/ infection biology
• pharmacology
• analytical chemistry
• structural biology/ biophysics

The laboratories of the participating groups are associated to three institutes:

• Institute of Molecular Biosciences,
• Institute of Chemistry and
• Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

All laboratories are located in close proximity to each other on the campus of the University of Graz.

A strong cooperation network between the groups as well as to other local, national and international collaboration partners fosters cross-disciplinary interactions.

Excellence in original research is by far the most important determinant for the quality of doctoral education. Our aim is to offer a coordinated training program for PhD students in close connection to the research activities of an inter-university consortium of scientists working in the molecular biosciences. The faculty of this consortium has successfully obtained a series of collaborative grants to support a well-integrated interdisciplinary program of research. That infrastructure includes the SFB “Lipid Hydrolysis” and the three BioTechMed-Flagship projects (“EpiAGE”, “LIPASES” and “SECRETOME”) and the Doctoral Program “DK Molecular Enzymology”.

The doc.funds follows operational recommendations published by higher education agencies (UK Quality Assurance Agency) and (IUBMB). The original research component has the highest priority but laboratory work is supplemented by an initial lab rotation program, seminars, local and international laboratory training courses, opportunity to perform a research stay in an outstanding, international partner lab, and participation in international conferences. Intensive workshop programs in research related skills such as research ethics, authorship and plagiarism, scientific communication, project management, career development, and finally professional coaching in leadership skills and personal management are emphasized for excellent science training as well as preparation for careers as future research leaders (BioTechMed, Timegate, Doctoral Academy Graz).

The doc.fund covers the costs of salaries, laboratory consumables, training activities and research stays of up to 6 months duration at collaborating laboratories within the international community. Generous financial support from the University of Graz and the State of Styria enhances the Program’s course offerings and training activities in addition to the project-related PhD research.