PhD student (f/m/x)

Contenido de trabajo

as soon as possible
Part-time (25 hours/week); limited for 3 years according to WissZeitVG (Third-party funded project)
Your salary will be based on TV-L
» Your tasks
Expression, purification and reconstitution of a human histone demethylase in complex with recombinant chromatin substrates and regulatory interaction partners
Cryo-EM sample preparation, screening, data collection and image processing
Assays of enzymatic activity and binding affinities, including design and analysis of mutants
Conduct collaborative efforts across disciplines (e.g. cell biology and epigenomics)
» Your Profile

Required skills and qualifications:
M.Sc. or equivalent degree in biochemistry, biophysics or a related field, completed with above-average grades
Substantial experience in biochemistry and structural biology
Thorough conceptual understanding of macromolecular structure and function
Outstanding levels of motivation, endurance and positivity
Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative team
Appreciation of thorough and dependable experimentation
Excellent communication in English (written and speech)

Desired qualifications (depending on project):
Hands-on experience and publication record in structural biology (preferably cryo-EM)
Experience in model building and interpretation of structural data and validation metrics
» Our Offer

Research overview

We are interested in the enzymatic basis of epigenetic control, in particular in the context of diseases such as cancer. In our group, we are investigating the three-dimensional structure and activity regulation of human multi-subunit chromatin modifying complexes. Our main focus in this direction are enzymes that methylate and demethylate histone proteins, thereby helping to orchestrate gene activation and repression.

We have a strong structural biology focus using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cross-linking mass spectrometry as our main approaches, but we also incorporate biochemical and cell biological methods to uncover the molecular structure and enzymatic control of epigenetic regulators. Our aim is to decipher the interactions with chromatin and regulatory interaction partners that as molecular triggers to direct their activities. We are among the main users of the Cologne cryo-EM facility (https://strubitem.uni-koeln.de/strubitem), housing state-of-the-art cryo-TEMs, such as a Thermo Fisher Titan Krios, enabling high-resolution structural analyses. Our group ist equipped for all steps in cryo-EM sample preparation, from protein expression to plunge-freezing. Please visit poepsel-lab.cmmc-uni-koeln.de to learn more about the group’s interests and ongoing research.

Details of the available project

For our work in the context of the newly established, DFG-funded research consortium CRC1430 – Molecular Mechanisms of Cell State Transitions (https://www.uni-due.de/crc1430), we are looking for a exceptionally motivated researcher to join our team as a PhD student. Our challenging, collaborative project within the CRC (A12) focuses on the structural elucidation of chromatin binding and activity regulation of JARID1B, a human histone demethylase that is critical for the progression and therapy resistance of malignant melanoma. We are working in close collaboration with oncologists who will use our mechanistic findings in disease models, providing a fantastic opportunity of working across disciplines. The practical work performed in our group, however, will be heavily focused on structural biology and biochemistry, so that we are specifically encouraging candidates with a strong background and interest in chromatin biochemistry and structural biology to apply. The successful candidate will be part of the integrated research training group on Molecular and Chemical Cell Biology, which is part of the CRC1430 and offers great opportunities of scientific exchange and the promotion of scientific knowledge and soft skills.

» Your future with us

Working at the University Hospital Cologne and the Medical Faculty means helping to shape the future - the future of medicine, of patients and, of course, your own future. You benefit from 59 clinics and institutes as well as numerous other departments and facilities and more than 10,000 jobs. The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cologne and the University Hospital Cologne assume important social tasks in research, teaching and patient care. A close network with many university and non-university partners guarantees an internationally successful science and the excellent education of our students.

» Your future in detail

The Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) is a multidisciplinary center at the University of Cologne, bringing together physician scientists with basic researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences to perform competitive basic, disease-oriented research. The mission of the CMMC is to advance the understanding of the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms as a prelude to improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment of many common health problems.

Research Environment

The CMMC is integrated into a rich life science environment on the grounds of the University Clinic Cologne. With the MPI for the Biology of Ageing, the excellence cluster CECAD and the Cologne Center for Genomics, there are plenty of opportunities for scientific exchange and collaborations. Through the graduate schools IPMM and the Graduate School for Biological Sciences Cologne, excellent mentoring and a diverse curriculum are ensured.

For further information, please visit cmmc.

Applications from female candidates are expressly welcome and will be given priority in the event of equal suitability, competence and professional performance.

People with disabilities are welcome to apply and will be treated preferentially in the event of equal suitability and qualification.

Contact:
Dr. rer. nat. Simon Pöpsel
+49 221 478-96987
https://www.uk-koeln.de
Application deadline: 26.09.2021

Postal address:
Universitätsklinikum Köln AöR
PA16
Geschäftsbereich Personal