Belgium-Postdoc Positions in Cell Biology

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Switch Laboratory, an independent research group of Vrije Universiteit Brussel, is permanently looking for post-docs with experimental experience in cell-biology. This group focuses on essential cellular processes where functional regulation is governed by protein conformational changes that have to be actively controlled to ensure cell viability.

Below are some available postdoctoral positions

1. 2 years Postdoctoral Positions in Biophysics
   Projects:structure-function studies of protein aggregation
   Switch Lab wish to employ protein engineering and design approaches in combination with biophysical techniques to characterise the structure of protein aggregates in detail. In addition, we want to develop library screening techniques to identify chemical compounds capable of inhibiting aggregation. You will work in a multidisciplinary team involving biophysicists, computational biologists as well as cell-biologists. You have a strong track record in working with proteins and biophysical techniques such as light scattering, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy.

2. 2 years Postdoctoral Positions in Mammalian Cell-Biology
   Projects:toxicity and specificity of protein aggregation
   Protein aggregates have a toxic potential, but the structural basis for this toxicity is not well understood. Significant variation is observed in the degree of toxicity associated with various aggregates, allowing to investigate the relationship between the physicochemical and structural characteristics of the aggregates and their toxic effects. Based on such studies it will become possible to predict which protein aggregates will cause toxic effects and which will be harmless
3. 2 years Postdoc in Computational Chemistry/structural Bioinformatics
   Projects:Parametrisation of an all-atom force field with non-natural amino acids
   The laboratory has significant expertise in the development of empirical force fields predicting mutational changes in the free energy of folding or binding of proteins. The aim of the current project is to extend the capabilities of the force field towards non-natural amino acids. This work involves obtaining good estimates of atomic parameters such as volumes, charges, hydrophobicity and compound properties such as backbone and sidechain entropy, from datamining and first principle simulations. You will need a good understanding of the physicochemistry of organic compounds and their interaction with proteins. The candidate will have a strong background in computational chemistry or structural bioinformatics and experience with c++ programming will be considered a serious plus.

For further information, please contact:

Joost Schymkowitz (joost.schymkowitz@vub.ac.be) or
Frederic Rousseau (frederic.rousseau@vub.ac.be)
SWITCH, VIB
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
http://switch.vub.ac.be/