For PhD Applicants
RAMP-UP: Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products – United for PhD Excellence
RAMP-UP is looking for talented, curious, and motivated early-stage researchers who want to make a real difference in the field of regenerative medicine and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs).
We offer a comprehensive doctoral training programme, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, part of the European Union's Horizon Europe's research and innovation framework, that connects academic excellence with hands-on experience across industry, clinical, and regulatory environments.
As a RAMP-UP Doctoral Fellow, you'll join a dynamic, international community working across science, technology, and healthcare. All fellows will join supportive, collaborative, and family-friendly research environments and take part in annual development and performance reviews as part of their doctoral training.
RAMP-UP fellows will be employed as full-time doctoral fellows at one of the programme’s four host institutions:
- Lund University (Sweden)
- Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands)
- Hannover Medical School (Germany)
- Technical University of Denmark (Denmark)
Depending on the local regulations of the host university, fellowships will span 36–48 months and include a competitive salary in line with national employment conditions, full social security coverage, and access to benefits such as paid holidays, sick leave, parental leave, and pension contributions (where applicable).
The average salary contribution for RAMP-UP positions over all institutes involved is €5384 including all taxes and social fees (including the employer's). The gross salary will vary by country and placement depending on employers' costs and exchange rates (see below).
Fellows receive a mobility allowance of €100 per month (subject to applicable taxes and social security contributions).
Each doctoral project includes dedicated funding to support research-related expenses and professional development activities, such as participation in summer and winter schools, conferences, networking events, and secondments. Across participating institutions, the average monthly budget allocated for research and training typically ranges from €2,000 to €4,000. However, the exact amount may vary depending on the specific position, project requirements, and host institution.
Find out more about salary and benefit details at each of the RAMP-UP host universities:
Salary, pension, and terms of employment are in accordance with Swedish national regulations and collective agreements applicable at Lund University,
Monthly gross salary begins at 34,200 SEK/month, approximately EUR 3208 /month.
A mobility allowance of 670 sek/month, approximately 65 €/month after employer taxes and social charge deduction.
The position is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for four years. Provisions regarding employment as a doctoral fellow can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), Chapter 5, Sections 1–7. More about terms of employment available on the staff pages.
Salary, pension, and terms of employment are governed by Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch University Medical Centers.
Monthly gross salary begins at EUR 3108 (This amount is subject to changes in the above mentioned collective labour agreement, which are expected in 2026).
This gross salary includes a mobility allowance of 100 €/month, subject to the same employer taxes and social charges as the rest of the salary.
Employment as a PhD candidate is for a four-year fixed-term contract and is conditional upon successful enrolment in the PhD programme at Leiden University Medical Center. The PhD programme must be completed in accordance with the Dutch Higher Education and Research Act and the doctoral regulations of Leiden University.
Salary, pension, and terms of employment are in accordance with German national regulations and collective agreements applicable at Hannover Medical School.
Monthly gross salary begins at EUR 3058.
A mobility allowance of 100 €/month (may be subject to employer taxes and social charges).
Employment as a PhD researcher is for a fixed duration of four years, subject to successful admission to doctoral studies at Hannover Medical School.
The PhD degree must be completed in accordance with the doctoral regulations of Hannover Medical School and the relevant German higher education laws.
Please note that positions based at DTU - Technical University of Denmark are not included in this initial recruitment round.
Learn more about how to join RAMP-UP below:
Who Can Apply?
Find out who’s eligible to apply, what backgrounds we’re looking for, and how to determine if this programme is the right fit for you.
How to Apply
Step-by-step instructions on choosing your research project, preparing your application, and submitting it through our central portal.
Research Projects
Explore the interdisciplinary PhD projects that make up RAMP-UP, addressing the full ATMP value chain from invention to clinical translation, and societal impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse through a compiled list of answers to the most common queries we receive, from eligibility and employment requirements to application tips.
Contact
RAMP-UP Doctoral Programme
Email: RampUp [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se
Special Call: Doctoral Fellow Position Now Open
Join the first cohort of the RAMP-UP Doctoral Programme
Application period: 17 July – 26 July 2026
Online interviews: August–September 2026
Notification of outcome: August–September 2026
Programme start: Autumn 2026
This special call is open for one Doctoral Fellow position within the RAMP-UP programme (Project 13). The selected candidate will join an international and interdisciplinary research environment focused on developing innovative gene and cell therapy approaches for autoimmune diseases at Hannover Medical School, Germany.
SUPPORTED BY AN EU COFUND ACTION
The RAMP-UP program has received funding from the European Union’s COFUND action, a part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Program within the European Commission MSCA framework. RAMP-UP Grant agreement ID: 101216514
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or MSCA. Neither the European Union nor the MSCA can be held responsible for them.