Postdoc: Single-Molecule Biophysics

Updated: over 1 year ago
Deadline: ;

Do you have experience in the biophysics of protein-nucleic acid interactions? Are you interested in interdisciplinary research at the frontier of physics, biology and chemistry? Please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 0.8 - 1.0


Job description

The Dulin lab at VU has to offer

two fully funded postdoc positions (1+2 years) in the field of biophysics to study protein-nucleic acids interactions. These positions offer you the opportunity to investigate, among other things, SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex and bacterial transcription-translation coupling. You use state-of-the-art single molecule techniques, such as magnetic tweezers (MT), total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM), correlative MT-TIRFM, single-molecule FRET, combined optical tweezers and fluorescence microscopy.

Within the lab, you design and perform experiments, and develop new computational analysis tools to investigate these biological processes. You develop and combine your expertise in physics, biology and software programming. Your work helps us understand the fundamental steps in RNA virus genome replication, bacterial transcription and translation.


Requirements
  • you are an outstanding experimentalist with a PhD degree
  • you have experience in biophysics, biotechnology, enzymology and/or biochemistry
  • experience in microscopy, computer programming (LabVIEW, Python, Matlab, C++, etc.) and/or quantitative protein-nucleic acids interactions investigations are an asset
  • you are proficient in English (both speaking and writing)
  • you are willing to work hard and have a strong work ethic. Collaboration and team work are important to you
  • you take a creative approach and are interested in crossing research fields

We do not have a fixed start date for these positions: you are welcome to start as soon as possible.


What are we offering?

A challenging position in a socially involved organisation. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,960 (scale 10) and a maximum €4,670 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile Onderzoeker 4 is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

The initial employment contract will initially be a period of 1 year.After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended (with two years) for a total duration of 3 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

  • a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

Environment

The Dulin lab has recently relocated its activity at VU Amsterdam from FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany (https://daviddulinlab.com/ ). The VU Amsterdam is one of the best universities in the Netherlands, and a leading environment in biophysics, located in the vibrant and international city of Amsterdam. Our team is an inclusive and diverse environment, welcoming excellent scientists from all backgrounds. We are embedded within the Physics of Living System Section of the Physics Department of VU, together with several other biophysics lab, constituting a uniquely thriving environment in physics of life, specifically in single molecule biophysics. The Dulin lab has a strong expertise in investigating genome processing machines, such as SARS-CoV-2 genome replication (Bera et al., Cell Reports 2021; Seifert et al., eLife 2021) and bacterial transcription (Dulin et al., Nature Communications 2018, Bera et al., NAR 2022). The successful candidates will join an enthusiastic and international team of biophysicists and biochemists ready to tackle highly challenging problems related to antiviral drug discoveries. They will have access to a large variety of cutting-edge assays in single molecule force and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques (e.g. magnetic and optical tweezers, TIRF microscope…), and a molecular biology facility to perform their research. They will also benefit from the support of an experienced staff in molecular biology, biochemistry and data analysis. They will have the opportunity to learn from the best scientists in the field, publish in high-impact journals and present their work in international conferences.


Application

The selected applicant is expected to start

as soon as possible

. The position will remain open until filled. Are you interested in this position?

Please apply via the application button and upload your cover letter (one page maximum), a curriculum vitae, a publication list and the contact details of 3 references. All the documents must be written in English.  All the documents 

must 

be written in English.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Dr. David Dulin
Position: Assistant Professor
E-mail: [email protected]

No agencies



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