PhD position: Selective protein degradation and aging (m/f/d)

Organisation/Company

International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz

Department

Institute of Molecular Biology

Research Field

Biological sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Germany

Application Deadline

17 Apr 2024 – 12:00 (Europe/Berlin)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Thinking of doing your PhD in the Life Sciences? The International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz is offering talented, young scientists the chance to work on cutting edge research projects within the open call on “Molecular Mechanisms in Genome Stability & Gene Regulation”. As an IPP PhD student, you will join a community of exceptional scientists working on diverse topics ranging from how organisms age or how our DNA is repaired, to how epigenetics regulates cellular identity or neural memory.

Activities and responsibilities

The research group of Anton Khmelinskii offers the following PhD project:

Protein quality control systems maintain a functional proteome through detection and removal of abnormal proteins. Due to inherent inefficiencies of cellular processes, formation of abnormal proteins is a constitutive problem. Moreover, proteome homeostasis can be challenged by stress conditions, disease mutations and declines with aging. Thus, understanding how cells deal with abnormal proteins is not only important from the point of view of basic research but will also contribute to understanding the molecular events of the aging process.

Various types of abnormal proteins are recognized by the ubiquitin-proteasome system via short motifs called degrons and marked for proteasomal degradation. A wide variety of degrons can be found at protein termini across all eukaryotes. We have recently identified a pathway that specifically targets degrons located at protein C-termini. This C-degron pathway has unexpectedly broad specificity, recognizing a variety of C-degron motifs, but its functions remain largely unknown (Kong et al. 2023).

PhD project: Quality control of mislocalized proteins

In this project, we will dissect functions of C-degron pathways through a combination of high-throughput screening, molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry. We will take advantage of powerful yeast genetics and high-throughput mutagenesis approaches to identify endogenous substrates of C-degron pathways and understand their functions in protein quality control and aging.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or related fields. The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic team and combine genetic screening approaches with deep mutational scanning, proteomics, biochemistry and molecular biology techniques to uncover substrates and functions of C-degron pathways. Excellent core facilities in the institute will provide the necessary support with mass spectrometry, sequencing and flow cytometry requirements of the project.

If you are interested in this project, please select Khmelinskii (Khme) as your group preference in the IPP application platform.

Qualification profile:

Are you an ambitious, young scientist looking to push the boundaries of research while interacting with colleagues from multiple disciplines and cultures? Then joining the IPP is your opportunity to give your scientific career a flying start!

All you need is:

• Master or equivalent
• Interactive personality & good command of English
• 2 letters of reference

We offer

• Exciting, interdisciplinary projects in a lively international environment, with English as our working language
• Advanced training in scientific techniques and professional skills
• Access to our state-of-the-art Core Facilities and their technical expertise
• Fully funded positions with financing until the completion of your thesis
• A lively community ofmore than 200 PhD students from 44 different countries

For more details on the projects offered and how to apply via our online form, please visit www.imb.de/phd .

The deadline for applications is 17 April 2024. Interviews will take place at IMB in Mainz on 1-3 July 2024.

Starting date: 1 August 2024 – 1 January 2025

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Research Field

Biological sciences

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

International PhD Programme (IPP)

Country

Germany

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.imb.de/phd

Contact

City

Mainz

Website

http://www.imb-mainz.de/PhD

Street

Ackermannweg 4

Postal Code

55128

STATUS: EXPIRED