2 PhD positions: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology 2253 views

Heidelberg University is offering a PhD position under the Project supervisor Barends, Thomas. The start of PhD project will be 1 Jul 2020. Applications are open to two outstanding PhD students to investigate enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis in ladderane-producing microorganisms. The PhD students will express these enzymes both separately to perform crystallographic and biochemical studies, and in combination to establish an in-vivo system for the investigation of the biosynthetic pathway of ladderanes.

About the Project:

• Title of the project is Ladderane Lipid BiosynthesisSummary: Ladderanes are highly unusual hydrocarbon moieties with linearly concatenated cyclobutane rings. They are found in the membranes of bacteria performing anaerobic ammonium oxidation (“anammox”).
• How these complicated molecules are produced is expected to involve both novel enzymes and specially evolved versions of known proteins, but the details remain enigmatic.
• How do these enzymes assemble such intricate carbon skeletons? How do they control the complex stereochemistry involved?
• How do they deal with the typical nonreactivity of hydrocarbons?
• How do they overcome the ring strain inherent in these molecules?
• Answering these and other questions about the molecular mechanism of ladderane biosynthesis will open up new frontiers in enzymology.

Qualifications:

• Candidate must hold a university degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or related field.
• Experience with iron-sulfur cluster proteins is a welcome plus.
• Applicants should have good English writing and communication skills.
• Candidate must be highly motivated, open-minded, and capable of critical and analytical thinking.