PhD position to study gene processing machines at the single-molecule level

The Dulin lab has one fully funded position for a PhD in biophysics to study protein-nucleic acids interactions using single-molecule techniques. The successful candidate will investigate how genomes are processed by enzymes, e.g. polymerase, helicase, using state of the art single molecule techniques, such as high throughput magnetic tweezers. Within the lab, the successful candidate will perform experiments and advanced data analysis to characterise the complex molecular machineries that replicate or transcribe the cellular or viral genome.

Qualifications:

We are seeking for

  • an outstanding experimentalist with a master degree in Physics/Biophysics/molecular biology and experience in optics, biophysics (experimental or theoretical), and computer programming (Labview, Python, Matlab, C++…).
  • a creative and hard working individual that has a strong interest in crossing research fields.

She/He will successfully develop and combine different expertise in physics, biology and software programming to discover new mechanisms in genome expression and maintenance. Proficiency in English (both speaking and writing) is required.

Environment:

The Dulin lab has started in September 2016 a new field of research at the Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, using physics methods to answer medically relevant questions. Our lab is one of the junior research groups at the University Hospital supported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF). The Dulin lab has a strong expertise in single-molecule techniques and data analysis, with a specific focus on magnetic tweezers and single-molecule FRET experiments. Using this expertise, we want to understand how viral or cellular genomes are expressed and maintained. The Friedrich Alexander University (FAU) is located in Erlangen and Nuremberg in the north of the Bavaria state and is part of the Medical Valley. FAU is one of the best universities in Germany, being recently ranked amongst the most innovative universities in Europe.

Application

The position is limited to three years. Preferable starting date is January 7th 2018. The salary is in accordance with the German federal public service salary scale (TVL). To apply, please send by email a cover letter (one page max), a Curriculum Vitae (two pages max), a publication list if applicable, an official listing of the grades of the Master degree and the contact details of two references to David Dulin. All the documents must be written in English.

The successful candidates will join a young and enthusiastic team of biophysicists and biochemists ready to tackle exciting problem in the virology field. She/he will have access to an imaging facility (OICE), to two state of the art magnetic tweezers apparatuses, to a molecular biology facility and to the technical support from an experienced molecular biologist. They will have the opportunity to present their work at international conference and to participate to summer school in order to develop their scientific skills.

Application deadline: the position will remain open until filled. Apply ASAP!