Promotion in Biophysik - PhD Position in Biophysics

The Third Institute of Physics at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen is looking to fill the position of a Research Assistant (Ph.D. position).

This position should be filled by 1st of January 2023. The regular working hours will be 65% of a full-time position (currently 25.87 hours per week) with an initial contract of three years. Salary: Pay grade 13 TV-L.

Tasks

Viscoelastic properties of cells play a pivotal role in many biological processes that involve substantial shape changes such as adhesion, spreading, growth, beating, division, migration, carcinogenesis, and tissue development. It is widely accepted that the major response to external deformation originates from the actin cortex directly coupled to the plasma membrane. The membrane/cortex composite forms a dynamic shell that controls the cell’s shape and remodels on time scales of tens of seconds due to protein turnover and myosin-mediated contractions, thereby enabling cells to rapidly adapt and respond to external cues. Our aim is to tell apart intrinsically passive from active properties of the cortex shell. We want to test the hypothesis of whether passive recruitment of excess surface area, poroelastic relaxation of the cytosol, and active contraction of the cortex are cellular responses on different time scales. The job holder will integrate a micropipette aspiration system into an AFM that is coupled to a spinning disk fluorescence microscope. This will allow studying the role of the plasma membrane reservoir and membrane/actin cortex attachment in epithelial cells and cardiomyocytes on their response to controlled stretching of the cellular surface.

This post is designed to foster young researchers and allow the successful applicant to pursue a doctoral degree.

Requirements

Suitable candidates should hold a Master's in Physics, Biology, or Chemistry (or the equivalent thereof) with experience working on the biophysics of cell mechanics using biological model systems. Proficiency in cellular biophysics, advanced light microscopy, and atomic force microscopy/colloidal probe microscopy are highly advantageous. The applicant should be curious, highly motivated, self-organized, and show a keen interest to work in an interdisciplinary group to perform leading-edge research.

Benefits

The Göttingen Campus is a leading center of neuroscience and biophysics in Europe hosting numerous internationally renowned research institutions, including the University and its Medical Center, the three life science Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute, the German Primate Center, and the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN) Göttingen.

The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in fields in which they are underrepresented. The university has committed itself to being a family-friendly institution and supports its employees in balancing work and family life. The mission of the University is to employ a greater number of severely disabled persons. Applications from severely disabled persons with equivalent qualifications will be given preference.

Please send your application with the usual documents (including a letter of interest, your curriculum vitae, copies of your certificates, and contact information of at least two references) preferably in electronic form in one single PDF-document by 1st of November to:

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen,
3. Inst. f. Physik, Abt. Betz,
Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1,
37077 Göttingen.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Timo Betz via e-mail.