Trinity College Dublin is recruiting 1 PhD Researcher for the PANDORA Marie Skลodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network, a project on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and translational vision research. The successful candidate will be employed as a Researcher for three years and registered as a PhD student at Trinity College Dublin, working on a "Therapeutic approach targeting the mitochondria". Applications are made by email with a full CV and two referees, and the deadline is 07 December 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full job specification and set out the project, the network and the application steps below.
Position at a Glance
๐๏ธ Institution: Trinity College Dublin, School of Genetics & Microbiology
๐ Location: Dublin, Ireland
๐ Position: 1 PhD Researcher
๐ค Network: PANDORA, Marie Skลodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network
โฑ๏ธ Contract: employed as a Researcher for three years, registered as a PhD student
๐ฌ Project focus: "Therapeutic approach targeting the mitochondria"
๐จ Contact for applications: Professor G Jane Farrar
What Is the PANDORA Doctoral Network?
PANDORA is a new MSCA Doctoral Network on discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimisation for AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration). The network brings together:
๐ซ 8 academic institutions
๐ญ 3 industrial partners
๐คฒ Non-profit organisations
๐ฅ A cohort of 13 PhD Researchers
The research network is focused on age-related macular degeneration and translational vision research.
Why Dry AMD Matters
๐ AMD is the most common cause of blindness in people over 65 years, affecting about 10% of that population globally.
๐ฉน Treatment options are significantly limited.
๐ฏ About 85% of AMD is termed dry AMD, the target disease for PANDORA.
Your Research Project: Targeting the Mitochondria
โก Perturbed cellular bioenergetics has been highlighted as a key feature of many disease pathologies, including dry AMD.
๐งช You will have the opportunity to evaluate innovative candidate therapies targeting mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics, exploring beneficial effects in disease models of dry AMD.
๐ There are clear interactions between multiple dysregulated cellular pathways in dry AMD, including complement dysregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
๐ฏ You will target dysregulated pathways at the hub of dry AMD pathology.
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๐ All opportunities in Ireland โ
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About Trinity College Dublin
๐ Trinity is Ireland's leading university, ranked 75th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026).
๐ Founded in 1592, it is steeped in history, with a reputation for excellence in education, research and innovation that has inspired generations of thinkers for over 400 years.
๐บ๏ธ Its current strategy is "Thrive: Trinity College Dublin's Strategic Plan 2025 - 2030".
โ๏ธ Trinity is an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and holds an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising its work to advance gender equality within Trinity and in the higher education sector.
๐ก The university is committed to supporting work-life balance and creating a family-friendly working environment.
Trinity's Values
Trinity centres its behavioural values around the importance of belonging:
๐ค Respecting and caring for one another
๐ค Achieving more through working together
โ Taking responsibility for actions and being accountable
๐ญ Never stopping imagining
๐ณ Being nature positive, connecting with the environment and with ambitions for a sustainable future
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Trinity is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all individuals, including:
โฟ Applicants with disabilities
๐ค๏ธ People who may have had non-traditional career paths
๐ช Those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities
๐ International applicants, including those who have been displaced due to war
How to Apply
๐ Submit a full Curriculum Vitae.
๐ฅ Include the names and contact details of 2 referees, including their email addresses.
๐ง Send your application by email to Professor G Jane Farrar.
๐ A studentship template document (Pandora_GJF_Template - Studentship.pdf) is attached under Further Information on the job specification page.
You can find more funded PhD and study offers in the Scholarships section on Youth Works Hub โ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PANDORA PhD studentship at Trinity College Dublin?
It is 1 PhD Researcher position in the PANDORA MSCA Doctoral Network, focused on a therapeutic approach targeting the mitochondria in dry age-related macular degeneration.
How long is the position?
The successful candidate will be employed as a Researcher for three years and registered as a PhD student at Trinity College Dublin.
What will the PhD researcher work on?
You will evaluate innovative candidate therapies targeting mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics in disease models of dry AMD, targeting dysregulated pathways at the hub of the disease.
Who is in the PANDORA network?
PANDORA includes 8 academic institutions, 3 industrial partners, non-profit organisations and a cohort of 13 PhD Researchers.
How do I apply?
Email a full CV, including the names and contact details (with email addresses) of 2 referees, to Professor G Jane Farrar. The email address is in the Links section below.
Can international applicants apply?
Yes. Trinity welcomes international applicants, including those who have been displaced due to war.
Deadline
โณ 07 December 2026
Links
๐ง Application email (Professor G Jane Farrar): millins@tcd.ie
๐ Job specification: https://my.corehr.com/pls/trrecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.jobspec?p_id=039589
