Roeland Merks

Leiden University is advertising a PhD position in Theoretical/Mathematical Biology focused on modeling cell migration in complex extracellular matrices (ECMs) to better understand the risk of young adult skin cancer / melanoma . The project is part of the EU consortium PhotoMel (Decoding Early-Life UVA and Skincare Additive Interactions Driving Melanoma Risk and Progression in Young Adults), a multidisciplinary collaboration of European universities and partners. The research aims to decode how chemical exposures and UVA-induced damage in early childhood affect ECM remodeling, skin cell mutations, and the melanoma niche. The successful PhD candidate will develop and extend two-dimensional models of melanoma cell migration in complex 2D ECMs. The work builds on a recent hybrid Cellular Potts model (hCPM) that couples cell migration and traction with molecular dynamics models of ECM fiber networks and PDE models for growth factors and ECM-modifying enzymes. Simulated data and imaging data of skin samples will be used to initialize and validate the models, with possible extension to 3D later in the project. Relevant study areas include theoretical biology, mathematical biology, computational science, computational physics, applied mathematics, biology, physics, computer science, biomedical engineering , and related quantitative fields. The post is embedded in an open, diverse, and interdisciplinary cancer research environment, and the student is expected to participate in PhotoMel events, training, and collaborations. Enquiries can be directed to Roeland Merks at merksrmh@math.leidenuniv.nl . The post links to the Leiden University careers page for full application details.

This PhD position at Leiden University offers an exciting opportunity to join the EU PhotoMel project, a multidisciplinary consortium focused on decoding early-life UVA and skincare additive interactions that drive melanoma risk and progression in young adults. The research will be conducted within the Faculty of Science, specifically in the Mathematical Institute and the Institute of Biology, and is embedded in the Multiscale Mathematical Biology (MMB) team and the qBioLeiden initiative. The project aims to develop and interpret novel two-dimensional multiscale mathematical models of melanoma cell migration through complex networks of extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers, with the goal of understanding how UV and chemical-induced ECM changes affect cell migration, proliferation, and gene expression. As a PhD student, you will further develop simulation techniques for modeling the mechanochemical regulation of melanoma cell migration, integrating these into frameworks such as the Tissue Simulation Toolkit and other CPM platforms. You will design simulation experiments to reflect ECM modifications due to UV and skincare additives, guided by literature, consortium data, and advanced parameter identification methods. Collaboration with a postdoc and experimental biologists, including colleagues at the Medical University of Vienna, will allow you to extend modeling insights to three dimensions and validate models against experimental data from ex vivo human skin samples and organotypic models. The position is part of a vibrant, international research environment at Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s largest science parks. The Faculty of Science is renowned for its diverse research activities spanning mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry, bio-pharmaceutical sciences, biology, and environmental sciences. The Mathematical Institute is internationally oriented and focuses on key research themes such as algebra, geometry, analysis, probability, statistics, and data science. The MMB team specializes in mechanobiology and mathematical biology, working closely with experimental collaborators. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in theoretical biology, applied mathematics, computational/theoretical physics, computer science, or a related discipline. Strong English proficiency, scientific writing skills, and the ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary environment are essential. Experience in numerical mathematical modeling (e.g., Cellular Potts modeling, particle-based simulations, PDEs, FBA) and programming skills in C++ or a related language are required. The position offers a competitive salary (€3059 - €3881 gross per month), holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, reimbursement of public transport commuting costs, flexible working hours, generous leave days, home-working allowance, and a university-provided laptop. Applications are accepted until July 14th, 2026. To apply, submit a letter of motivation, CV, MSc transcripts, a copy or draft of your Master’s thesis, contact details of 1 or 2 former supervisors, and examples of previously written code via the application link. The starting date is flexible, with a preferred start in Fall 2026. For further information, contact Prof. dr. Roeland Merks at merksrmh@math.leidenuniv.nl.

Leiden University is offering a PhD position in modeling the mechanical regulation of plant development and regeneration. The project sits at the intersection of mathematical biology, computational science, applied mathematics, theoretical biology, and plant mechanobiology, and is embedded in the interdisciplinary Multiscale Mathematical Biology team at the Faculty of Science. The PhD project is part of the GreenTE (Green Tissue Engineering) Gravitation programme, a multidisciplinary consortium of seven Dutch universities focused on understanding how plants sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. The scientific aim is to develop and refine two-dimensional and, later, three-dimensional models of plant development that incorporate mechanical feedback loops controlling cellular decision making and polarization. The models will help explain how plant shape and size arise from interactions between tissue-level and organ-level mechanics and cellular and molecular regulation. A major component of the work is further development of VirtualLeaf, an open-source modeling package for plant tissues. The project combines Hamiltonian descriptions of cell wall strains, stresses, and turgor pressures with ordinary differential equations for biochemical networks. The successful candidate will work with simulated data and 2D/3D imaging data from plant tissues, including Arabidopsis thaliana and Ceratopteris, and may later extend the work to 3D using VirtualLeaf3D under development in the team. The student will collaborate closely with experimental partners across GreenTE, especially the group of experimental plant biologist Prof.dr. Dolf Weijers at Wageningen University, and with PhD students performing mechanical interventions such as stretching, squeezing, and poking of embryos and roots. The role includes developing and interpreting multiscale models, incorporating mechanical properties of cell walls from experimental and simulation data, improving the software to reflect laboratory manipulations, and publishing results in the scientific literature. The position is based at Leiden University’s Faculty of Science, in a strong international research environment on the Leiden Bio Science Park. The work is embedded in a broader quantitative biology ecosystem and offers interaction with researchers in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. The post holder is expected to participate in GreenTE events, training, and collaborations, and will also contribute to teaching and student supervision. Applicants should have a relevant master’s degree, strong English communication and scientific writing skills, experience with numerical modeling and programming, and a genuine interest in plant developmental biology. The appointment is for one year initially, with a view to permanent employment, and is a full-time PhD position with a monthly gross salary in the range of €3204 to €4051 plus standard Dutch university employment benefits. The deadline for full consideration is 15 September 2026, with a flexible start date in fall or winter 2026.