Objective
The human gut microbiome plays a central role in health by contributing to digestion, immune regulation, and protection against pathogens. However, the ecological principles governing its assembly, resilience, and colonization resistance remain unclear. Nutrient competition has emerged as a key driver of community structure and pathogen exclusion.
The NutriGut project aims to unravel how microbial nutrient preferences shape gut microbiome assembly and how key species influence resilience to environmental stressors. Using defined communities, I will (1) characterise nutrient preferences and their role in community assembly, (2) assess how antibiotics and pathogens affect nutrient-driven interactions and resilience, and (3) validate key species’ roles in microbiota resilience and colonization resistance in vivo.
The project integrates high-throughput in vitro screening, synthetic microbial ecology, molecular and multi-omics (qPCR, proteomics, metabolomics), and mouse models. By profiling nutrient use in monocultures and communities and applying stressors, it will clarify how resource competition governs microbiome dynamics and stress resilience.
This project will deliver a mechanistic, predictive framework for how nutrient preferences govern microbiome assembly, stability, and colonization resistance. I will identify key species/consortia, along with their nutrient utilization pathways, driving pathogen resistance and validate their efficacy in vivo. These insights will enable the rational design of protective microbial consortia and targeted nutritional interventions, ultimately advancing the frontier of precision microbiome science. Performing this research in Prof. Stecher’s lab, a leader in microbiome ecology and colonization resistance, will be instrumental in enhancing my scientific independence, interdisciplinary expertise, and leadership, positioning me as a strong candidate for a leading independent research position.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80333 Muenchen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.