Predoc Position: Optical control of photoswitchable membrane peptides
4 years Ph.D. position funded by FPI-MINECO
The Biomembranes group at the Institute of Molecular Science – ICMol (Universitat de València) offers a 4-years predoctoral within the founded project Optical control of folding, membrane insertion and biological activity of photoswitchable hydrophobic peptides.
In addition, We will also support candidates with a competitive academic record who are willing to apply to external funding sources, like MINECO-FPU or EU grants.
Our gold is to engineer optical control of membrane binding, folding and insertion of hydrophobic and amphiphilic protein fragments, with the aims to understand these processes at the atomic level and be able to manipulate them for the purpose of practical applications. We will use a variety of photoswitchable peptides and study their response to light in model membranes (SUVs, LUVs, and GUVs). For their characterization we will rely on a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, such as steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies (FTIR, CD, UV-vis, Raman), fluorescence confocal microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, or spectral calculations
Required qualifications and experience
We look for students with a proven track record of academic excellence and interest in the intersection between physics, chemistry and biology at the molecular level. Candidates should fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold an internationally recognized master’s degree (or evidence of its completion by September 2017)
- Be ready to enroll a doctorate program in the academic course 2017/1018
How to apply
Applications and informal queries about the position and the project should be addressed by e-mail to Victor Lorenz Fonfria, using the subject “OptoMembrane Predoc”. Please, include CV, cover letter, electronic copy of the Certified Academic Record for the degree and master, and names and contact information of two referees.
Additional information
For more details about the project and the application process, please download the advertisement file.
