PhD position as research associate in the fields of
(I) structural biology of neurotoxic peptides and (II) new peptide-biopolymer hybrid materials
Subject: Influence of chemical modifications on the structure and function of peptides and (bio) polymers
DFG funded from October 2019 by June 30th 2023 (payment according to TLV-LEG 13, 65%)

Your profile
Requirements:
• Masters in physics, chemistry, biochemistry, or related subject
• High motivation, good spirit to work for new scientific insights and to become acquainted with new research methods
• Skill to work independently as well as in a team
• excellent level of written and spoken English
Preferred experiences:
• Structural biology /structure elucidation
• Fibrils
• (Bio)polymers
• NMR spectroscopy
• Neurodegenerative diseases/Alzheimer’s disease

Research Project:
Investigations of the structure and dynamics of the fibril forming polypeptide amyloid-β in biology and as a component of new polymeric materials.

Amyloid-β is a short, fibril forming polypeptide that became known as a hallmark for Alzheimer’s disease. The project addresses the important questions of structure and structure formation of amyloid-β peptides: first in regard of its pathologic and cytotoxic properties and second as a component of new polymeric materials.
In the first part of the project, mutations of the peptide backbone are introduced to investigate physical, biochemical and pathological consequences of this constraint. In the second part, the polypeptide amyloid-β shall be combined with synthetic components to generate (bio) polymers with new properties. One approach is to covalently link the N-terminus of amyloid-β with synthetic polymers and to investigate the properties of these hybrid structures especially concerning the formed structural elements. Another approach is to substitute parts of amyloid-β with photo- or chemoactive components to generate polymers with controllable and inducible properties.

Main methods of the project will be NMR spectroscopy complemented by other established methods such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism, and kinetic assays. Cell culture experiments will be carried out in international collaboration.

Research group
The job advertised is part of the project “amyloid-β/biopolymers“ in the group of Prof. Huster. Besides the amyloid-β project the group works on membrane proteins and bio membranes. The group is part of the Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics at the Medical Faculty of Leipzig University (https://biophysik.medizin.uni-leipzig.de/en/home/).
The project is part of the collaborative research center “Transregio-SFB 102 Polymers under multiple constraints: restricted and controlled molecular order and mobility” (http://www.natfak2.uni-halle.de/forschung/verbund/sfbtrr102/) and an integrated research training group “polymers: random coils and beyond” (https://blogs.urz.uni-halle.de/irtgpolymers/).

We offer
• A project combining relevant and state-of-the-art challenges of biophysical and materials research
• An established set of methods
• Freedom to self-reliantly develop new methods and ideas and to act on one’s own responsibility
• Incorporation of the project in a collaborative research center and an integrated research training group with access to a broad range of other research methods, scholarly exchange with other researchers and diverse training opportunities
• Access to international networks in the fields of bio polymers, synthetic polymers, NMR spectroscopy and neurodegenerative diseases
• Secured funding of the employment, equipment, consumables and travel expenses till June 30th 2023
• A pleasant and partnership based work environment in a team with diverse scientific background and research interests

Application process
Applications must be submitted no later than September 9th 2019 in written or electronic form to
Prof. Dr. Daniel Huster Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics Härtelstr. 16-18 04107 Leipzig, Germany e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
With submission of your application you accept the processing of your personal data for the application process. Further information on the collection and processing of personal data can be found at (Link: https://bewerberportal.uniklinikum-leipzig.de/files/datenschutz/DS_UKL_Bewerbungen.pdf).
Severely disabled candidates are favored when equally qualified. Please provide a corresponding verification.

The Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry is one of the largest institutes of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science e. V. and conducts basic research to advance knowledge and benefit society. Innovative projects and interdisciplinary cooperation characterize research within the Max Planck Society.

The Department of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics (Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller) invites applications for a position as

PhD Student or Postdoc (f/m/d)
(Code Number 07-19)

for the project

- Macromolecular Structures from Single Molecule X-Ray Diffraction Experiments -

to advance structure refinement of single molecule x-ray diffraction data. In these “diffract and destroy” experiments, femtosecond x-ray free electron laser pulses are shot at a single molecule, and the diffraction pattern is recorded. Depending on sample size, only very few photons are scattered in each shot, such that many scattering images have to be combined. The analysis is complicated by the fact that for each shot the orientation of the sample molecule is random and unknown. We have recently shown that as few as three recorded photons per image suffice. You will develop, implement, and test with recent experimental data a rigorous Bayesian approach, which holds the promise to drastically reduce the number of required photons, thus rendering single molecule x-ray structure determination feasible.
(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04830-4)

The successful candidate for either position has a keen interest and strong skills in computational physics, mathematics, and probability theory and a strong interest in interdisciplinary collaborative research.

PhD candidates hold (or expect to complete soon) a Master’s or equivalent degree; Postdocs hold a PhD or equivalent degree in any of these or a related field.

PhD students will have the opportunity to participate in one of several available PhD programs, with three years funding and a possibility of extension, in collaboration with the University of Göttingen. Masters students aiming at a fast track PhD are also welcome. The Postdoc position is limited to two years with a possibility of extension.

Payment and benefits are based on the TVöD guidelines. The starting date is flexible.

The group language is English, so no German language skills are required – but it’s a great opportunity for you to learn German!

The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.

Interested? Submit your application including cover letter (explaining background and motivation), CV, transcripts, and publication record preferably via e-mail as one single PDF file to

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry
Department of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics
Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller
Am Fassberg 11
37077 Göttingen
Germany

The Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry is one of the largest institutes of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science e. V. and conducts basic research to advance knowledge and benefit society. Innovative projects and interdisciplinary cooperation characterize research within the Max Planck Society.

The Department of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics (Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller) invites applications for a position as

PhD Student or Postdoc (f/m/d)
(Code Number 08-19)

for the project

- Mechanism of Ribosomal Antibiotics-Induced Stalling Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Non-Equilibrium Statistical Physics -

The ribosome synthesizes proteins by catalyzing peptide bonds between amino acids and is the target for many antibiotics. The growing peptide chain leaves the ribosome through a 10-nm exit tunnel. Certain antibiotics, the macrolides, bind inside this tunnel. Depending on the sequence of the peptide, the presence of these antibiotics can have different consequences: (1) peptides are not able to pass by the antibiotic, thereby stalling the ribosome, (2) peptides extend further than the antibiotic binding site but are stalled at a later stage, and (3) peptides can pass the antibiotic and become fully synthesized. This sequence-specific stalling is used by bacteria as a sensor for the presence of the antibiotics and to regulate resistance mechanisms, but also has pharmacological implications. The aim of the project is to use extensive MD simulations of different peptides and antibiotics in the ribosomal tunnel to understand how the interplay between the peptides, the antibiotics and the ribosome leads to the sequence-specific stalling, and to rationalize the results in terms of a simplified statistical mechanics model. (https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms12026)

The successful candidate for either position has a keen interest in computational molecular biophysics and in interdisciplinary collaborative research, as well as a strong background in theoretical physics or physical chemistry, structural biology, and scientific computing.

PhD candidates hold (or expect to complete soon) a Master’s or equivalent degree; Postdocs hold a PhD or equivalent degree in any of these or a related field.

PhD students will have the opportunity to participate in one of several available PhD programs, with three years funding and a possibility of extension, in collaboration with the University of Göttingen. Masters students aiming at a fast track PhD are also welcome. The Postdoc position is limited to two years with a possibility of extension.

Payment and benefits are based on the TVöD guidelines. The starting date is flexible.

The group language is English, so no German language skills are required – but it’s a great opportunity for you to learn German!

The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.

Interested? Submit your application including cover letter (explaining background and motivation), CV, transcripts, and publication record preferably via e-mail as one single PDF file to

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry
Department of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics
Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller
Am Fassberg 11
37077 Göttingen
Germany