JOUW FUNCTIE

Within the context of the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska Curie Doctoral Network (DN) “MeChaNiSM” there are 15 fully funded open positions for PhD students in the field of nucleic acids chemistry and biophysics. One of those position is at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

You will get the opportunity to:

• be supervised by an expert in the field;
• take charge of an exciting research project;
• research in close collaboration with partners within the Marie Skłodowska Curie Doctoral Network: https://www.chalmers.se/en/projects/mechanism/
• participate in innovative training modules, including a series of hands-on workshops that provide technical, transferable and presentation skills, international conferences, and outreach activities.

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH FIELD

Nucleic acids (NAs) are central to the storage, transmission, and regulation of genetic information. DNA carries the genetic information for all cellular life, while RNA plays many diverse roles. These include not only the traditional roles of messenger-, transfer- and ribosomal-RNA, but also many regulatory functions such as gene silencing in RNA interference, precision nuclease targeting in CRISPR/Cas, and in providing the blueprint for mounting mRNA vaccine immune responses to combat SARS-CoV-2. Significantly, the genetic material of many viruses, including influenza, HIV and SARS-CoV-2, consist of RNA folded into complex 3D structures. Single-molecule techniques have revolutionized the understanding of complex NA structures and their interactions with therapeutic oligonucleotides, small molecules, and proteins. However, for Europe to adapt to new therapeutic challenges1 and to increase its competitiveness, new expertise is urgently required in single-molecule analysis of NAs, a research field that intersects physical chemistry, biophysics, chemical synthesis, and molecular simulation. MeChaNiSM will train the next generation of European scientific leaders in the development of single-molecule biophysics techniques to investigate critical, cross-disciplinary questions regarding the structure, dynamics, function, and interactions of NAs.
The following member institutions and companies are involved in this Doctoral Network:

REQUIREMENTS:

Degree: Master in organic chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics or similar
Language: English proficiency (oral and written)
We are looking for motivated researchers with MSc degrees in organic chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics or similar (early-stage researcher) with excellent experimental skills as well as good team spirit. Your application should include a letter, emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications and motivation to apply for this position, a detailed CV, publication list (if any), contact details of at least two referees, and academic transcripts of BSc and MSc grades.

Please refer the Job description for details