Marine biodiscovery: the pipeline in finding cures from marine biodiversity

The MarPipe project deals with all aspects and steps within the marine biodiscovery pipeline. Marine organisms have the capacity to produce a variety of biologically potent natural products, including antimicrobial and anticancer compounds. The various partners study the further development of antimicrobial and anticancer lead compounds originating from a previous EU project (PharmaSea).

For example, the student's tasks within the project could be related to (but not limited to):

  • Marine Biodiscovery/ Biotechnology Sector - Explore the sector's dynamics, its diversity of players and the different type of activities associated. Learn about the many sectors that benefit from marine biodiscovery and biotechnologies (e.g. medicine/ pharmaceutical, cosmetics, aquaculture, bioremediation...).
  • Marine Business opportunities - Study the potential benefits, the risks and the influencing factors associated to conducting this type of research. Learn about entrepeneurship in the Blue growth field, the What and the How, the Do's and the Don't of building a career marine biodiscovery/ biotechnology research.
  • Biodiscovery tools: Find out about the accessibility of marine genetic material: collections, bio-repositories, databases... What is available to scientists, how to find it and access it, how to use it. 

The exact scope of the work will depend on the status of the project at the time of the internship, but this may include litterature reviews, building database, designing models, drafting short reports... Most of the tasks will be desk work, although the student will be welcome to participate in eCOAST other weekly routine missions, which may include short field work (sampling/monitoring).

Due to the nature of activities within eCOAST, which are very diverse and changing, it is possible that by April new projects will come up and might offer additional subjects to work on.

Language requirements: 
English. Dutch appreciated but not necessary.
Specific competences required : 
Work Independently - good writing skills - Analytical thinking - Motivation and interest in the topic.
Safety issues: 
None
Accommodation possibilities : 
No accommodation, but we can provide tips to find housing.
Additional costs to be covered by the student: 
No