PhD student position (f/m/x) fidelity mechanisms of mRNA and protein biosynthesis – Center for Moluc (KHS-35909)

Your tasks

• Investigate how proteotoxic stress impacts transcriptome and proteome fidelity using RNA-seq and mass spectrometry methods
• Analyze how the Ribosome-associated protein quality control (RQC) pathway acts to maintain cellular fitness using cell culture and biochemical experiments
• Use data integration across methodologies (transcriptomics and proteomics) and interventions (different stressors, cell types, etc) to obtain a mechanistic view of the triggers and physiological consequences of RQC activity
• Work in close collaboration with other groups of the Collaborative Research Center ?Systems-level consequences of fidelity changes in mRNA and protein biosynthesis?
• Record, analyze, and present experimental data, contributing to scientific publications
• Manage your own research project with direct supervision by the PI

Your Profile

• Highly qualified and motivated students holding a M.Sc. or equivalent degree in cell/molecular biology, computational biology, biochemistry, or related field
• Enthusiasm for mechanism-driven basic research and omics technologies
• Prior research experience in cellular/molecular biology and/or protein biochemistry. Conceptual understanding of Proteomics and RNA-seq technologies is desired
• Excellent problem-solving skills, and a high level of commitment, perseverance and positivity
• Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative team
• Excellent communication in English (written and speech)

Our Offer

• Opportunity to do cutting edge science within the Collaborative Research Center ?Systems-level consequences of fidelity changes in mRNA and protein biosynthesis?
• Close support and mentoring by the PI
• A diverse working environment with equal opportunities
• Modern laboratories and infrastructure for training and research
• Access to core facilities offering state-of-the-art technologies (see CMMC facilities and CECAD facilities)
• Extensive training opportunities
• A thriving research community, with many internationally-recognized research institutes in direct reach: Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), Max-Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne Center for Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, and many research institutes of the University of Cologne
• A structured graduate program held in English, fostering career development through scientific and soft skills training
• Salary according to the German salary scale TV-L, following the Act of Academic Fixed-Term Contract (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz ? WissZeitVG)
• Flexible working time models to support family life

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

Proteins are molecular machines that control and execute virtually all cellular processes. The intricacy of the protein synthesis process, requiring the transfer of information from DNA to RNA and finally to protein, provides many opportunities for error.  Moreover, to exert their function proteins must adopt specific tridimensional structures, which are often difficult to achieve and maintain. Misfolded proteins are not only dysfunctional, but they can also coalesce into potentially toxic aggregates that are considered a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, cells are equipped with a complex and adaptive network of factors that support protein folding and address defective proteins for elimination. The central interest of our laboratory is to understand how protein quality control pathways distinguish between functional and aberrant protein species, and how they make the decision between repair and degradation. We are particularly interested in quality control processes engaged during translation at the ribosome (see Eisenack and Trentini Front Mol Biosci 2023 for an overview of this topic). We use a combination of genetic (CRISPR-Cas), biochemical, chemical-biology, and mass spectrometry-based approaches to mechanistically characterize protein quality control pathways in human cells, as well as to evaluate cellular consequences upon their failure.

Please visit CMMC -Trentini-Lab (https://www.trentini-lab.cmmc-uni-koeln.de/) to learn more about the group?s interests and ongoing research.

Have we awakened your interest? Please submit your application (including a detailed CV, academic transcripts, contact details for two references, and a letter of motivation) through the link below.

Contact:Dr. Debora Trentini
+49 221 478-42566

Application deadline: 11.08.2024

Postal address:Universitätsklinikum Köln AöR
PA16
Geschäftsbereich Personal
50937 Köln