JOB DESCRIPTION
The Department “Process Systems Engineering” (Director: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher) at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamic of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, Germany is inviting applications for two PhD Student positions.
The two positions are to be filled as soon as possible, limited to three years with the possibility of extension.
The advertised positions are embedded into the joint research project MaxSynBio, sponsored by the Max Planck Society, and by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). The overall objective of MaxSynBio is the synthesis of artificial biosystems from functional modules by means of a bottom-up approach of Synthetic Biology, which will potentially enable biotechnological applications and generate knowledge of fundamental nature. The interdisciplinary joint research project involves 9 Max Planck Institutes in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering sciences as well as one chair in the field of humanities at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Scope of Duties:
- Reconstitution and characterization of functional biomolecules into artificial membranes and cell-mimicking compartments
- Development of enzymatic cascades for metabolic conversions in cell-mimicking compartments.
To submit your application for this position, please click on the "APPLY" button.
Please include your curriculum vitae and references in your application, with the subject „MaxSynBio PhD application Ref. 2014-3“.
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Suitable candidates hold a Diploma degree or a Master degree in the natural sciences, preferentially in biochemistry, biophysics, chemistry, physics, biology, or in the engineering sciences. Marks should be clearly above average.
- Experience in reconstitution and characterization of membrane proteins such as transporters and enzymes in artificial membranes (lipid vesicles, planar lipid membranes, etc.) as well as experience in enzymatic catalysis will be considered as a strong asset.
- Furthermore, practical know-how in the isolation, characterization and handling of proteins will be beneficial.
- The tasks require a high level of experimental skills and creativity as well as consolidated physical-chemical knowledge. The willingness to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment is expected.