Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) | Biology of Ageing

Job Code: 01-2021

Job Offer from March 17, 2023

We are interested in revealing the molecular secrets of ADP-ribosylation (ADPr), a challenging PTM that plays key roles in health and disease. Using advanced proteomics, we uncovered Serine ADPr as a new type of histone mark (Nature Chemical Biology 2016) and described the underlying molecular mechanisms by identifying HPF1/PAPR1 as its reader complex (Mol Cell 2017) and ARH3 as its eraser (eLife 2017). Crucially, we and others have shown that Ser-ADPr is the primary form of ADPr in the DNA damage response (eLife 2018). These insights are stimulating studies of how Ser-ADPr regulates the DNA damage response and chromatin dynamics, as exemplified by our recent report on the interplay between Ser-ADPr and canonical histone marks (Cell Reports 2018). Recently we established a chemical biology strategy that is based on the Ser-ADPr writer complex and allows the generation of a range of essential tools for ADPr. This novel technology has broad potential to illuminate ADPr signalling pathways in essential biological processes and has allowed us to elucidate the prevalence of mono-ADPr upon DNA damage (Cell 2020).

Currently with the support of an ERC consolidator grant we are capitalizing on our lead and combining our newly established chemical biology-based technology with state-of-the-art proteomics, biochemistry, molecular biology and microscopy techniques to study elusive, but biologically and clinically important forms of ADPr in the DNA damage response, chromatin dynamics and ageing.

We seek an ambitious and talented scientist (m/f/d) to join an enthusiastic, fast-paced and collaborative team in an outstanding scientific environment.

The Proteomics and ADP-ribosylation signaling Research Group headed by Ivan Matic at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing is looking for a full time Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) (job code 01-2021). 

The applicant is required to hold a Ph.D. in biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related field, and have a strong track record of accomplishments and relevant experience demonstrated by first author publication(s) in high-profile journals. Candidates with a strong interest in PTMs and signaling and with a high level of competence in cell biology and/or biochemistry are encouraged to apply for this position. The working language is English; knowledge of the German language is not required.

The Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing (MPI-AGE) was founded in 2008 with the aim to understand fundamental mechanisms of healthy ageing. It is part of a broad network of research institutions in the Cologne-Bonn area dedicated to research on ageing, metabolism, and age-related disease, including the CECAD Cluster of Excellent in the University of Cologne and the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, constituting a vibrant and collaborative environmentfor research. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and excellent core facilities, to which the successful candidate will have access, the institute provides outstanding research opportunities for its scientists. At the moment, we host employees from more than 30 different nations.

Then please upload your complete application documents, containing a one-page letter with a personal statement describing your scientific accomplishments and your interests in our laboratory, your CV including a list of publications, contact information for 3 references, in electronic form as one single pdf-file via our online application platform .

The job post will be published until a candidate will be found. Informal inquiries (but not applications) are welcome and should be sent to Dr. Ivan Matic [email protected] .

Further information about the Matic group .

The employment contract is based on contracts for the civil service (TVöD-Bund, Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst) and will be time limited. The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

Pease consult recent publications from Matic laboratory for more information on our research programme:

• An HPF1/PARP1-Based Chemical Biology Strategy for Exploring ADP-Ribosylation. Bonfiglio, J. J.Leidecker, O.Dauben, H.Longarini, E. J.Colby, T.San Segundo-Acosta, P.Perez, K. A.Matic, I. (2020) Cell, 183, 4, 1086-1102 e23
• Interplay of Histone Marks with Serine ADP-Ribosylation. Bartlett, E.Bonfiglio, J. J.Prokhorova, E.Colby, T.Zobel, F.Ahel, I.Matic, I. (2018) Cell Reports, 24, 13, 3488-3502 e5
• Serine is the major residue for ADP-ribosylation upon DNA damage. Palazzo, L.*Leidecker, O.*Prokhorova, E.*Dauben, H.Matic, I.**Ahel, I.** (2018) Elife, 7
• Serine ADP-ribosylation reversal by the hydrolase ARH3. Fontana, P.*Bonfiglio, J. J.*Palazzo, L.*Bartlett, E.Matic, I.**Ahel, I.** (2017) Elife, 6
• Serine ADP-Ribosylation Depends on HPF1. Bonfiglio, J. J.Fontana, P.Zhang, Q.Colby, T.Gibbs-Seymour, I.Atanassov, I.Bartlett, E.Zaja, R.Ahel, I.**Matic, I.** (2017) Molecular Cell, 65, 5, 932-940 e6
• Serine is a new target residue for endogenous ADP-ribosylation on histones. Leidecker, O.*Bonfiglio, J. J.*Colby, T.Zhang, Q.Atanassov, I.Zaja, R.Palazzo, L.Stockum, A.Ahel, I.Matic, I. (2016) Nature Chemical Biology, 12, 12, 998-1000