PhD Position; MSCA DN Cafe-Bio field Theories to Unravel Solidification of pr

Organisation/Company University of Stuttgart Department Institute for Theoretical Physics IV Research Field Physics » Statistical physics Physics » Computational physics Physics » Biophysics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 1 Apr 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Country Germany Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number CAFE-BIO 4.5 Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number  Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

A fully-funded PhD position is available to candidates of all nationalities as part of the MSCA Doctoral Network CAFE-BIO (A Coherent Analysis Framework for Emergence in Biological Systems). Researchers in this network will apply analytical and computational methods and understanding from physics (particularly statistical physics) to understand emergent phenomena in biological systems. The network involves 15 Doctoral Candidates across 12 host institutions.

This specific project concerns exploring active field theories to unravel solidification of protein condensates and will be conducted under the supervision of Prof Thomas Speck at Stuttgart University, Germany. It will involve investigating the physics of dynamic arrest in dense non-motile active matter using minimal coarse-grained models and linking them to scalar active field theories. Secondments with Dr David Zwicker at the MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen, Germany, will provide training in complementary methods.

All 15 CAFE-BIO Doctoral Candidates will participate in scientific and skills training provided by the network, which combined with the research project will lead to a PhD degree. Generous allowances are paid for living expenses and mobility, as per the MSCA Doctoral Network work programme. Additional family, long-term leave and special needs allowances are also available on application.

Please see the links below for more information.

Candidates are eligible to apply for CAFE-BIO positions if they have an excellent first degree that qualifies for PhD study in physics, mathematics and adjacent fields, with preferably a strong background in statistical physics.

Specific Requirements

At the time of recruitment no candidate may have resided or carried out their main activity (work, study etc.) in the country of the eventual host institution (Germany) for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

• The Doctoral Candidate will be employed on a full-time researcher contract for an initial 36 month period.
• A notional living allowance of €4,010 per month (gross) adjusted by a factor of 101.2% to account for the cost of living and applicable deductions in Germany. (See the MSCA Work Programme 2023-4 p156 for the adjustments applied under the EU funding rules.)
• The network budget includes a mobility allowance of €8,520 per year to support living in a new country. Where applicable a family allowance of €7,920 per year is available. Long-term leave and special needs allowances can also be applied for.
• All research, training and networking activities (including secondments) are funded by the network.

• Candidates are eligible to apply for CAFE-BIO positions if they have an excellent first degree that qualifies for PhD study in physics, mathematics and adjacent fields, with preferably a strong background in statistical physics.
• Candidates with a degree in the biological sciences with strong quantitative skills are also encouraged to apply.
• Candidates must not be in possession of a doctoral degree (PhD) at the date of recruitment.
• Candidates can be of any nationality.
• At the time of recruitment no candidate may have resided or carried out their main activity (work, study etc.) in the country of the eventual host institution for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.
• CAFE-BIO aims to promote gender equality. Suitably qualified female candidates, and candidates from any other under-represented group, are therefore explicitly encouraged to apply.
• PhD research projects are to begin on September 1st 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

• Candidates are requested to apply for three PhD research projects that they are eligible for, in ranked order of preference, in a single application.
• Project preferences will be considered when allocating projects to candidates, in combination with a ranking based on the written application documents and performance at interview for shortlisted candidates.