16 three-year fellowships for Doctoral Candidates (DCs) starting in the 2026–2027 academic year, funded through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of the European Commission (DC1–DC15)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We welcome applications from DCs of any nationality, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation or age to undertake a PhD in hemato-oncology research, provided they meet the following eligibility criteria: · No prior doctoral degree: Candidates must not hold a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment. Applicants who have defended their thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the degree are also considered ineligible. · MSCA mobility rule: Candidates must comply with the MSCA mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the date on which their employment contract begins. · Academic background: Candidates must hold a Master’s degree relevant to the chosen PhD project, or an equivalent credential permitting admission to doctoral studies no later than one month before the employment contract begins. Applicants with an official university degree from the European Higher Education Area comprising at least 300 ECTS credits likewise fulfill this requirement. · English proficiency: Candidates must have a high level of proficiency in written and spoken English. This will be evaluated through the motivation letter and the interview, respectively. HOW TO APPLY Please submit your application via the ACHILLES online application tool, selecting UP TO THREE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, and provide the following documents in English: · Personal information, including full name, gender, nationality, and contact details. · Curriculum vitae, including academic transcripts (Bachelor’s and, if available, Master’s), and contact information for at least two referees. · Motivation letter (up to two pages) outlining your research experience, academic achievements, and motivation for applying to ACHILLES and the selected research project. Important: If you apply for more than one position, A SEPARATE MOTIVATION LETTER MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR EACH PROJECT. · Master’s degree certificate, or proof that the required degree for PhD enrolment will be obtained by the time of recruitment (if not yet awarded). SELECTION PROCESS The selection procedure is organized in three stages: eligibility check, evaluation of applications, and recruitment workshop, with an additional step for DC1 candidates, who must also complete a PhD entry exam (see below). Each position will have a dedicated Training and Career Board (TCB) overseeing the process. The procedure is as follows: Eligibility check: An initial review will be conducted to verify that candidates meet all eligibility requirements. Evaluation of applications: Applications that pass the eligibility check will be assessed by each TCB based on the following criteria: Academic background (40%): relevant education, awards, and academic achievements. Professional and/or research experience (20%): publications, conference participation, mobility, and intersectoral experience. Motivation (40%): alignment with ACHILLES project themes, commitment to pursuing a PhD, and willingness to live abroad. ONLY FOR DC1 APPLICANTS – PhD entry exam: DC1 applicants who achieve a score above 70% and wish to continue in the selection process must take a PhD entry exam in the subject area (mathematics) and a foreign language (English) exam, in accordance with Art. 9(1)-(2) of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Act on Academic Staff Development in the Republic of Bulgaria. The mathematics exam will consist of both written and oral components and will be based on a list of topics in mathematical modelling and numerical methods, which will be provided to the preselected applicants (Art. 3(1) from the Regulations on the Conditions and Order for Acquiring Scientific Degrees and Occupying Academic Positions at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). The exam will take place online prior to the ACHILLES Recruitment Workshop. ACHILLES recruitment workshop: The top three candidates for each position who achieve a minimum score of 70% will be invited to an online interview. Candidates may optionally request a brief meeting with potential supervisors and their teams prior to the interview to gain a deeper understanding of the project and the research focus of the hosting institution. During the recruitment workshop, the TCB members for each position will conduct the interviews. Candidates will be asked to prepare a 10-minute presentation. Interviews will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Scientific knowledge (30%): expertise relevant to the project, including technical skills and specialized knowledge. Communication skills (30%): clarity of expression and creative thinking. Motivation and compatibility (40%): alignment with project goals and group dynamics, as well as motivation to pursue a PhD. After the recruitment workshop, all interviewed candidates will be notified of the outcome. Successful candidates will then be contacted by the HR department and their future supervisor at the hosting institution to begin the hiring process. Doctoral Candidate (DC) position: DC1: Mathematical Modelling of the Immunotherapies in Hematologic Malignancies. A Master's degree in Mathematics is mandatory for this position. DC2: Defining the Mechanistic Impact of PTPN11 Mutations on Leukemic Transformation and Disease Progression in Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia DC3: Investigating Mechanisms of Brain Infiltration and Chemotherapy Resistance in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia DC4: Determining the Long-lasting Impact of T-cell Leukemia and Lymphoma on Hematopoietic niches DC5: Identifying Rational Approaches to Enhance the Activity of the Anti-cancer Drug Venetoclax DC6: Mechanisms of Resistance to MEK Inhibitors in Leukemia and Identification of Targeted Therapeutic Approaches DC7: Enhancing CAR-NK Cell Therapies to Target Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Overcome Immune Resistance DC8: Prevent Progression of Myelofibrosis to Acute Myeloid Leukemia DC9: Characterization of AID-dependent Mutations on MicroRNA Function DC10: AI-driven Proteoform-based Drug Repurposing for Targeted Cancer Therapies DC11: RNA Methylation Gain as a Mechanism of Resistance to Therapy in Myelodysplastic Syndromes DC12: Optimization and Preclinical Evaluation of Novel SHP2 DC13: CAR-T cell Double Targeting Strategies to Overcome Tumor Antigen Escape and Microenvironment Inhibition DC14: Development of Therapeutic Antibodies for Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia DC15: Novel preclinically-validated GATA3 inhibitor/degrader as a therapy for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia DC16: Targeting Metabolic Pathways in Leukemic Stem Cells for AML Treatment