PhD position on the sensing of water transport through membrane channels

The Lab for NanoBiology (Prof. Dedecker) is an interdisciplinary research group focused on the study and visualization of molecular processes occurring in biosystems. We combine (bio-)chemistry, physics, and engineering expertise to study molecules and cells, taking advantage of optical and single-molecule imaging, molecular probes, molecular biology, and 'large' data analysis in doing so.

The Mechanistic Molecular Biochemistry Group (Prof. Ismail) investigates the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of disease-related proteins using a multidisciplinary approach that combines structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology. The lab is particularly focused on biomolecular interactions, characterizing regulatory complexes, and developing novel therapeutic strategies.
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Project

As part of the EU-funded Innovative Training Network (ITN) 'WATER', you will perform leading research on new ways to characterize water transport through membrane channels. Such transport is crucial to the proper functioning of cells, though it is currently unclear to what extent it occurs in complex channels such as ion channels. To do so, you will develop new molecular probes and methodology with which to measure water transport through such channels, taking advantage of optical microscopy to measure these down to the level of individual channels. The work involved includes work on chemical design, structural biology, protein purification and characterization, and single-molecule optical measurement and data analysis. You will perform secondments at the Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria, and with Chrometra, a Belgian company.

By being embedded in the WATER research network, you will also interact with parter groups located across multiple EU research groups, building your research on our shared expertise and gaining multiple new skills including not only scientific but also personal and career-development skills via our comprehensive training program.

Other postitions are available within this network as well, as can be seen from the project webpage attached to this notice.

Profile

We are looking for a motivated young researcher with an interest in the molecular basis of life and on the making and application of novel tools to understand its functioning. You should be possess a master's degree in (Bio-)Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or equivalent. Experience with imaging, synthetic chemistry, structural biology, and/or biochemistry is a plus.

The EU regulations for Integrated Training Programs further require that you have not resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. If you do not meet this requirement then you might be eligible to apply for the other positions in the ITN network.

Offer

We offer a PhD position within our groups at KU Leuven, situated within the broader ITN network.
ITN project website

Interested?

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