Covalent and kinetic trapping repair machinery for structural and functional studies

Recruitment for this position has closed.

PhD project: In this project methods and conditions will be developed to covalently and kinetically trap DNA repair intermediates, which will enable structural and functional studies required to understand the mechanism of repair. Objectives are to trap repair proteins on DNA via non-specific and site-specific cross-linking for structural and functional analysis and to determine the protein-protein interfaces in recruitment and unwinding complex. Time-resolved high resolution cross-linking will be used to correlate the kinetics of complex and with structural changes of the recruitment and unwinding complex and to trap protein-complexes for structural studies.

You will be immersed in an international, multidisciplinary training environment in fundamental life sciences and obtain insight into the role of basic chemical and physical principles underlying molecular steps in complex yet integrated molecular processes. As the research relies on cutting-edge technologies, development of new approaches will be an integral part of your project. Because of the close collaboration between academia and industry, you will furthermore learn how technology development drives innovation in research and how basic research questions can drive innovative technology into marketplace developments.

This project will be hosted at the Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology and Chemistry of Justus Liebig University (Giessen, Germany), with long and short training visits to other consortium partners.

Qualifications and skills

You have an MSc in in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology closely related field, good command of English (IELTS grade min. 6.5, or equivalent). Team working, communication skills and interdisciplinary work is prerequisite. Due to the basic idea of a Marie Curie ITN candidates should be highly mobile and able to spend several months' long periods in other institutions.

The Justus Liebig University aims to employ more women in academic research. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply.

The Justus Liebig University aims to position itself as a family-friendly university. Applicants with children are welcome to apply.

Terms of employment

The successful candidate will receive a temporary position for 3 years. Payment will be according to EU Marie Curie Training Network regulations (https://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/index_en.htm).

Contact information

For more information contact apl. Prof. Dr. Peter Friedhoff, Institute for Biochemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, 35392 Giessen, Germany, Peter.Friedhoff@chemie.bio.uni-giessen.de, Telephone ++49-641-9935407. Information on the Institute can be found at www.uni-giessen.de/biochemie.

Eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply are listed on our vacancies page.
Application deadline for this position is March 15, 2017.