PhD student Biology - Molecular Physics (m/f/d)

The Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences is a leading international research institute of exceptional scientific breadth. With more than 40 research groups and some 1,000 employees from over 50 nations, it is the largest institute of the Max Planck Society.

The Department of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics (Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller) is inviting applications for a
PhD Student (f/m/x)

for the project
- Microtubule mechanical failure and interaction with tau proteins -
The project aims at elucidating the mechanical properties and failure of microtubule filaments as well as their interactions with intrinsically disordered proteins such as tau proteins, which are involved in neurodegenerative diseases. To this end, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics methods will be used.

Please visit the project website for more details:
https://www.mpinat.mpg.de/grubmueller/microtubules You have a strong physics or chemistry background and strong skills in statistical mechanics and scientific computing; experience in structural biology will be helpful. You hold (or expect to complete soon) a Master’s or equivalent degree in any of these or a related field with very good grades. You have a keen interest in interdisciplinary research and enjoy collaborating with experimental groups. You are fluent in English (certificate) and will have the opportunity to learn German in free in-house language courses.

You will have the opportunity to join the established PhD Research Training Group “Cytoskeletal elements of active matter - from molecular interactions to cellular biophysics” (RTG 2756 CYTAC) in collaboration with the University of Göttingen.

The RTG 2756 offers a vibrant academic environment, joint supervision of PhD candidates by thesis committees, and a structured study program with many opportunities to improve scientific and personal skills. General information on the RTG 2756 is available at www.uni-goettingen.de/rtg2756.

Requested documents

Cover letter (explaining background and motivation, limited to 500 words).
CV & publication list.
School leaving exam certificate (A-level, Abitur, European Baccalaureate, or equivalent).
Master's degree and transcript (Please provide transcripts translated in English or German,
if applicable).
English language certificate.
References: names and contact details of two senior academics that know you well (Please do not upload reference letters)

State of the art on-site high performance/GPU compute facilities.
A wide range of offers to help you balance work and family life, such as an on-campus kindergarten and parent-child offices.
On-campus cafeteria with a wide range of meals (including vegan/vegetarian).
Health management: free fitness and yoga rooms, sports groups, \\"active break\\" courses.
Initiatives for sustainability and a green environment with a new biotope.

The historic city of Göttingen, located in the heart of Germany, offers great outdoors and cultural opportunities, a vibrant student scene, and an impressive scientific heritage.
Payment and benefits are based on the wage agreement for public service personnel (TVöD Bund) guidelines. The position is funded for 3 years (with a possibility of extension). We would like to fill the position as soon as possible, but the exact start date is flexible.

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. The Max Planck Society strives for diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences is a leading international research institute of exceptional scientific breadth. With more than 40 research groups and some 1,000 employees from over 50 nations, it is the largest institute of the Max Planck Society.

The Department of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics (Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller) is inviting applications for a


PhD Student (f/m/x)
for the project
- Microtubule nanomechanics and turnover under cell-like physical constraints -


supervised by Dr. Maxim Igaev. The PhD project involves massively parallel, atomistic and coarse-grained modeling to study the dynamic and mechanic properties of microtubule filaments subject to external forces by space constraints or other cellular factors.

Please visit the project website for more details:
https://www.mpinat.mpg.de/grubmueller/microtubules
Eligible candidates have strong basic skills in either or all of the following disciplines: computational (bio)physics, structural biology, statistical mechanics, and scientific computing. They hold (or expect to complete soon) a Master’s or equivalent degree in any of these or a related field. A keen interest in interdisciplinary research and collaboration with experimental groups is preferable.



The group language is English, so no German language skills are required - but it is a great opportunity for you to learn German.
State of the art on-site high performance/GPU compute facilities
A wide range of offers to help you balance work and family life: on-campus kindergarten places, parent-child offices, etc.
Further training opportunities and free in-house language courses
Spacious campus cafeteria with a wide range of meals (including vegan/vegetarian ones)
Health management: free fitness and yoga rooms, sports groups, \\"active break\\" courses
Initiatives for sustainability and a green environment with a new biotope

Institute for Nanophotonics Goettingen e.V.
Department of Optical Nanoscopy
Since its founding in 1987, the Institute for Nanophotonics Goettingen has been a pioneer in the
transfer of application-oriented research between science and industry. The activities range
from the development of novel laser measurement techniques, product refinement using lasers,
the development of new beam sources to applications in the life sciences and medical
technology.
Our group uses the light emission of living cells for imaging that is generated by the process of
bioluminescence. We apply a genetically encodable bioluminescence system to create
autonomously glowing cells and improve the brightness of this system in different cell types. In
this project, we will explore the use of newly developed optical fibers for the detection of
bioluminescence signals at great depths of large biological specimens, which cannot be
accessed with common camera-based imaging methods. A fiber-based setup will be developed
in collaboration with a German company and applied for bioluminescence measurements.
We invite applications for a • Construction of a fiber-based bioluminescence imaging system
• Test measurements using biological samples, data visualization • Bachelor's degree in physics or a related subject
• Ideally experience in optics and basic programming skills • Interdisciplinary team in a cutting-edge research area at the interface of physics, biology,
medicine and materials science
• Extensive and modern equipment
• Excellent integration into the Goettingen campus

The Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences is a leading international research institute of exceptional scientific breadth. With more than 40 research groups and some 1,000 employees from over 50 nations, it is the largest institute of the Max Planck Society.

The research group for Computational Biomolecular Dynamics (Prof. Dr. Bert de Groot) is inviting applications for
PhD Student (f/m/x)
in the field of
- Ion Channel Simulations - for any of the following topics:
Relationship between channel dynamics and permeation.
Ion channel cooperativity.
C-type inactivation mechanism in Kv and K2P channels.
Potassium channel gating due to pressure, temperature or pH. Successful candidates have a keen interest and strong skills in computational molecular physics, structural biology and scientific computing, as well as a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and collaboration with experimental groups.
You hold (or expect to complete soon) a Master’s or equivalent degree in any of these or a related field. State of the art on site compute facilities.
A team of 30+ expert colleagues.
A family friendly, green campus with on-site kindergarten.
Ample training opportunities.
The group language is English, so no German language skills are required - but it is a great opportunity for you to learn German. Free in-house language courses are available. The historic city of Göttingen, located in the heart of Germany, offers great outdoors and cultural opportunities, a vibrant student scene, and an impressive scientific heritage.

You will have the opportunity to participate in one of several available PhD programs, with three years funding, in collaboration with the University of Göttingen. Masters students aiming at a fast track PhD are also welcome.
Payment and benefits are based on the German Public Service Payscale (TVöD Bund) guidelines. We would like to fill the position as soon as possible, but the exact start date is flexible.
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. The Max Planck Society strives for diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Institute for Nanophotonics Goettingen e.V.
Department of Optical Nanoscopy
Since its founding in 1987, the Institute for Nanophotonics Goettingen has been a pioneer in the
transfer of application-oriented research between science and industry. The activities range
from the development of novel laser measurement techniques, product refinement using lasers,
the development of new beam sources to applications in the life sciences and medical
technology.
Our group uses the light emission of living cells for imaging that is generated by the process of
bioluminescence. We apply a genetically encodable bioluminescence system to create
autonomously glowing cells and improve the brightness of this system in different cell types. In
this project, we will explore the use of newly developed optical fibers for the detection of
bioluminescence signals at great depths of large biological specimens, which cannot be
accessed with common camera-based imaging methods. A fiber-based setup will be developed
in collaboration with a German company and applied for bioluminescence measurements.
We invite applications for a • Construction of a fiber-based bioluminescence imaging system
• Test measurements using biological samples, data visualization • Bachelor's degree in physics or a related subject
• Ideally experience in optics and basic programming skills • Interdisciplinary team in a cutting-edge research area at the interface of physics, biology,
medicine and materials science
• Extensive and modern equipment
• Excellent integration into the Goettingen campus

The Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences is a leading international research institute of exceptional scientific breadth. With more than 40 research groups and some 1,000 employees from over 50 nations, it is the largest institute of the Max Planck Society.

The research group for Computational Biomolecular Dynamics (Prof. Dr. Bert de Groot) is inviting applications for
PhD Student (f/m/x)
in the field of
- Ion Channel Simulations - for any of the following topics:
Relationship between channel dynamics and permeation.
Ion channel cooperativity.
C-type inactivation mechanism in Kv and K2P channels.
Potassium channel gating due to pressure, temperature or pH. Successful candidates have a keen interest and strong skills in computational molecular physics, structural biology and scientific computing, as well as a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and collaboration with experimental groups.
You hold (or expect to complete soon) a Master’s or equivalent degree in any of these or a related field. State of the art on site compute facilities.
A team of 30+ expert colleagues.
A family friendly, green campus with on-site kindergarten.
Ample training opportunities.
The group language is English, so no German language skills are required - but it is a great opportunity for you to learn German. Free in-house language courses are available. The historic city of Göttingen, located in the heart of Germany, offers great outdoors and cultural opportunities, a vibrant student scene, and an impressive scientific heritage.

You will have the opportunity to participate in one of several available PhD programs, with three years funding, in collaboration with the University of Göttingen. Masters students aiming at a fast track PhD are also welcome.
Payment and benefits are based on the German Public Service Payscale (TVöD Bund) guidelines. We would like to fill the position as soon as possible, but the exact start date is flexible.
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. The Max Planck Society strives for diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

The Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences is a leading international research institute of exceptional scientific breadth. With more than 40 research groups and some 1,000 employees from over 50 nations, it is the largest institute of the Max Planck Society.

The Department of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics (Prof. Dr. Helmut Grubmüller) is inviting applications for a


PhD Student (f/m/x)
for the project
- Microtubule nanomechanics and turnover under cell-like physical constraints -


supervised by Dr. Maxim Igaev. The PhD project involves massively parallel, atomistic and coarse-grained modeling to study the dynamic and mechanic properties of microtubule filaments subject to external forces by space constraints or other cellular factors.

Please visit the project website for more details:
https://www.mpinat.mpg.de/grubmueller/microtubules
Eligible candidates have strong basic skills in either or all of the following disciplines: computational (bio)physics, structural biology, statistical mechanics, and scientific computing. They hold (or expect to complete soon) a Master’s or equivalent degree in any of these or a related field. A keen interest in interdisciplinary research and collaboration with experimental groups is preferable.



The group language is English, so no German language skills are required - but it is a great opportunity for you to learn German.
State of the art on-site high performance/GPU compute facilities
A wide range of offers to help you balance work and family life: on-campus kindergarten places, parent-child offices, etc.
Further training opportunities and free in-house language courses
Spacious campus cafeteria with a wide range of meals (including vegan/vegetarian ones)
Health management: free fitness and yoga rooms, sports groups, \"active break\" courses
Initiatives for sustainability and a green environment with a new biotope

Institute for Nanophotonics Goettingen e.V.
Department of Optical Nanoscopy

Since its founding in 1987, the Institute for Nanophotonics Goettingen has been a pioneer in the
transfer of application-oriented research between science and industry. The activities range
from the development of novel laser measurement techniques, product refinement using lasers,
the development of new beam sources to applications in the life sciences and medical
technology.
Our group uses the light emission of living cells for imaging that is generated by the process of
bioluminescence. We apply a genetically encodable bioluminescence system to create
autonomously glowing cells and improve the brightness of this system in different cell types. In
this project, we will explore the use of newly developed optical fibers for the detection of
bioluminescence signals at great depths of large biological specimens, which cannot be
accessed with common camera-based imaging methods. A fiber-based setup will be developed
in collaboration with a German company and applied for bioluminescence measurements.
We invite applications for a • Construction of a fiber-based bioluminescence imaging system
• Test measurements using biological samples, data visualization • Bachelor's degree in physics or a related subject
• Ideally experience in optics and basic programming skills • Interdisciplinary team in a cutting-edge research area at the interface of physics, biology,
medicine and materials science
• Extensive and modern equipment
• Excellent integration into the Goettingen campus