Doctoral Network MenoBrain 15 Open PhD Positions!
MenoBrain (Brain Health in Menopausal Women), a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (DN), is currently recruiting 15 PhDs candidates. The fellowships are funded as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme.
The MenoBrain consortium consists of 11 beneficiaries and 7 partner organisations involving hospitals, universities, research institutes and companies from 10 European Countries. The consortium, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Christian Gaser of the Jena University Hospital, will conduct cutting-edge research and training in the highly topical and emerging field of gender-specific healthcare with focus on healthy aging in woman.
All PhD positions are listed via EURAXESS: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/379260
Vilnius University Life Sciences Center is hiring a PhD candidate supervised by Prof. Ramunė Grikšienė for the EEG project: “A longitudinal evaluation of the impact of peri- and postmenopausal MHT on female brain function, cognition and gut microbiota.” See DC10.
MSCA eligibility (must-have): At the time of recruitment, candidates must be in the first four years of
their research career, must not hold a doctoral degree, and must not have resided in Lithuania or
carried out their main activity (work or study) there for more than 12 months in the 36 months
immediately prior to the recruitment date.
What we offer: We offer a fully funded MSCA fellowship with network-wide training weeks, summer
schools, international conference participation, and interdisciplinary training through secondments. Gross salary (in the employment contract) – 4110 EUR, Netto salary (after taxes) – 2486 EUR.
Selection process: Interested candidates, please send a motivation letter, a CV including publications (if available), copies of university degrees and courses (including obtained grades), and the names and e-mail addresses of two scientists who can provide references (all summarized in one PDF) to menobrain@med.uni-jena.de . Please indicate the DC position you are applying for (DC10 or DC11). Applications that do not meet the profile and/or the above criteria cannot be considered. For more information concerning the research project (DC10) please contact Prof. Dr. Ramune Griksiene via email: ramune.griksiene@gf.vu.lt and the research project (DC11) please contact Prof. Dr. Aurelijus Burokas via email: aurelijus.burokas@gmc.vu.lt .
Application deadline for DC10: 15 December 2025
MenoBrain DC project 10
The Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Lithuania, offers a PhD position for a doctoral candidate/MSCA fellow for the project: “A longitudinal evaluation of the impact of peri- and postmenopausal MHT on female brain function, cognition and gut microbiota.” The position is part of the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network MenoBrain “Brain Health in Menopausal Women” with full-time employment for a duration of 3 years, starting in February 2026.
Objective of the project: (Peri)menopause involves hormonal fluctuations that trigger physical and psychological symptoms. Menopausal hormonal therapy (MHT) is the primary treatment for (peri)menopausal symptoms; however, understanding MHT’s benefits and risks, particularly its effects on psychological well-being, brain health, and cognition, remains limited. The DC10 project aims to investigate the effects of MHT on brain function, cognition, and gut microbiota in (peri)menopausal women through a longitudinal study. This study combines electroencephalography (EEG), psychometric, and psychological assessments to analyze resting-state brain activity, cognitive outcomes, emotion regulation, psychological profiles, and microbiota variations.
The successful candidate will join a Hormones and Brain Function Research Group studying the relationships between sex/gender, hormones, cognitive function, emotional behavior, and brain activity using psychophysiological methods.
Requirements for the applicant: Candidates should be motivated and possess good time management skills, be able to work independently, and be interested in both collaborative work within and beyond the group. Applicants are expected to hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, or a related field, with a strong background in statistics. Experience with human EEG and gut microbiota, as well as programming skills (Python, Matlab), are advantageous. Very good English language skills are required. The ability to speak Lithuanian is desirable to enable direct communication with participants.
For more information about the research project, please contact Prof. Dr. Ramune Griksiene via email: ramune.griksiene@gf.vu.lt .