PhD Positions in the Cellular and Molecular Biophysics Group within European Marie Curie ITNs

Location: Schwille lab at the MPI of Biochemistry in Martinsried. Web: https://www.biochem.mpg.de/schwille

Project 1: Reconstitution and functional analysis of a minimal extracellular matrix

This project will be in the context of the European Marie Curie ITN ComeInCell. ComeInCell will establish a novel integrated Synthetic Cell platform to provide new quantitative model systems to elucidate key cellular mechanisms of health and disease based on the integration of condensate and membrane models. Understanding membrane-condensate interactions is vital for deciphering their functional roles in cellular processes. Our consortium employs synthetic vesicles as model systems to explore these interactions. These tailor-made mimics of cellular compartments offer a platform for studying membrane dynamics and the impact of compartmentalization on the activity of reaction networks and the assembly of complex machinery. We will design synthetic cells as life-science prototyping tools to decipher the role of membrane-associated condensates in essential cellular processes linked to membrane transport, membrane transformation, metabolic networks, and repair. Training will involve model membrane biophysics, condensate biophysics, molecular biology of reconstituted proteins, as well as single molecule imaging and spectroscopy for analysis.

Project 2: Relevance of condensates in minimal cell division 

This project will be in the context of the European Marie Curie ITN NATPRIME. The main aim of NATPRIME is to establish multidisciplinary training on the emerging topic of nanoparticle-based adjuvants to deliver nucleic acid therapeutics across cellular membranes. Various nanoassemblies, i.e lipid nanoparticles, polyplexes, liposomes, that are modified with targeting ligands will be utilised for encapsulation. Antibodies, peptides, glycans, and glycopolymers open up greater possibilities in the precise targeting of nanoparticles to desired organs/tissues/cells. The combined molecular toolbox of targeting ligands, charged lipids, helper lipids and PEG-replacement lipids need a high-throughput formulation-screening to ensure increased uptake of such particles in the desired organs. This project will be on biophysical understanding of molecular interactions of formulation components with membranes and membrane proteins that are supplied with an artificial extracellular matrix to better understand the fundamental role that this may take in cellular activation. Training will involve model membrane biophysics as well as single molecule imaging and spectroscopy for analysis.

Requirements:

Ideally a person with a quantitative background (physics, biophysics, chemistry, biochemistry)

Application via the Graduate School Quantitative and Molecular Biosciences Munich (QMB):

As part of QMB, you will additionally have ample opportunities for scientific exchange with world-leading scientists of various fields and develop your scientific career with lasting benefits. The international PhD training program at QMB emphasizes communication and collaboration across traditionally separate disciplines, including biochemistry, medicine, bioinformatics, experimental and theoretical biophysics, and applied mathematics.

QMB places a strong emphasis on experimental work while also encouraging students to engage in theoretical approaches to derive meaningful insights from their data. This dual focus on advanced quantitative experimentation and theoretical analysis, combined with the excellence of its participating scientists, positions QMB uniquely within the European scientific landscape.

Please note: All applications have to be submitted in English through our online application tool. Applications submitted by mail or email will not be considered.

For detailed information about our application requirements see: https://qbm.genzentrum.lmu.de/application/requirements/ 

In your application, you can select up to two research groups you are interested in. For details about research areas and participating research groups, please see: https://qbm.genzentrum.lmu.de/research/research-areas-groups/