2 PhD Student Positions, Atomic Force Microscopy in Germany

October 10, 2008

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DFG Research Center Molecular Physiology of the Brain

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Faculty of Physics, III Physikalisches Institut

The section Advanced Microscopy of the DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB; www.cmpb.de) within the DFG Excellence Cluster 171 ”Microscopy at the Nanometer Range” is offering:

Two PhD student positions

(biophysics, AFM, motor protein, virus)

Within the ‘Cluster of Excellence for Microscopy at the Nanometer range’, we use and develop Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques to study dynamic biological systems on the nanometer scale.

Collective motor protein behavior

Kinesin motor proteins are involved in intracellular transport along microtubules in eukaryotic cells. We have recently succeeded in imaging single kinesin motor proteins in motion along the microtubules at single nanometer resolution. The new project is aimed to find out how, on a molecular level, traffic congestion within the cell is avoided to allow efficient transport. The PhD student will use AFM in combination with optical microscopy techniques to study the collective behavior of motor proteins, traffic in crowded conditions or around obstacles. He or she will also be involved in the continuous development of the current instrumentation to improve the speed of image acquisition to a sub-second timescale.

Experience with, or interest in the development of instrumentation and/or optics would be beneficial.

Virus mechanics

Enveloped viruses consist of a protein core that is enclosed by a lipid bilayer. During their life cycle the viruses need to persist in the often hostile extra cellular environment when they transfer from host to host, but to allow infection, the viruses must also permit membrane fusion with or within the target cell. This project aims to understand how the viruses meet these apparently conflicting demands on their mechanical design. The PhD student will use AFM to measure the mechanical properties of single enveloped viruses, like the influenza virus and simplified model systems, under conditions that mimic the different stages of the viral life-cycle. Furthermore he or she will develop new software routines to improve data acquisition, processing, and modeling. The project will be carried out in collaboration with a virology group.

Applicants should hold a master degree or equivalent in physics, biochemistry or molecular biology. For further information please contact Dr. Iwan Schaap (ischaap@physik3.gwdg.de). Applications (including CV and references) can be send till October 31^st 2008 to the above contact.

The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities.

Scholarship Tags: Atomic, Force, germany, Microscopy, PhD, positions, Student