PhD Student (f/m/d) | Quantifying the thermodynamics of biomolecules using droplet microfluidics Part-time

PhD Student Position

The newly established research group in Phase Transition Engineering (Group Leader: Dr. Leif-Thore Deck) at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems is inviting applications for a PhD Student position.

Research topic: “Characterizing biomolecular phase transitions using droplet microfluidics”

The position is to be filled as soon as possible and is limited to three years.

Understanding how solids form from fluids is one of the most fundamental questions in the physical sciences. Solid assembly is pivotal to both natural and industrial systems, ranging from the manufacturing of crystalline products in the chemical and (bio)pharmaceutical industries to the formation of functional and toxic protein aggregates in living organisms. The miniaturization of experimental setups has transformed the study of physical, chemical, and biological systems. State-of-the-art microfluidic platforms enable the combinatorial generation, processing, and analysis of thousands of micrometer-sized droplets, which facilitates the high-throughput screening of phase transitions.

This project focuses on the development of next-generation platforms that provide unprecedented insights into the phase transitions of peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids, with direct connections to both industrial and biomedical applications. On the industrial side, the insights gained will aid parallel projects aimed at improving the rational design of biopharmaceutical formulations and manufacturing processes that involve crystallization or precipitation for purification. On the biomedical side, the project will elucidate how to modulate the transformation of disease-relevant disordered proteins (such as alpha-synuclein or tau) into toxic condensates or aggregates.

Your Tasks

• Development and characterization of droplet microfluidic methods for the study of biomolecular phase transitions, including liquid-liquid phase separation, aggregation, precipitation, and crystallization.
• Detailed quantification of key properties of phase transitions, focusing on thermodynamics and kinetics of nucleation, growth, and dissolution.
• Application of these methods to various classes of biomolecules (peptides, nucleic acids, (dis)ordered proteins, etc.)

Suitable Candidates

• Hold a Master's degree in the engineering or natural sciences, preferentially in chemical, bio or process engineering, physics, chemistry or related disciplines with grades above average.
• Have a strong interest in experimental work.
• Have strong communication skills and be motivated to cooperate with colleagues.
• Have a very good knowledge of English.
• Have sufficient knowledge of German.

Knowledge and experience in chemical laboratory work as well as optics and microfluidics, are advantageous.

We Offer:

• A full-time position with a fixed-term employment contract in the public sector for three years, with the option of extension.
• An international and interdisciplinary working environment.
• A collaborative and dynamic working atmosphere.
• Flexible working hours and modern working conditions.

The Max Planck Society is committed to equal opportunities, gender equality and diversity. What matters to us are your qualifications, professional strengths and attitude. We therefore welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, cultural or social background, disability, religion, age, lifestyle, ideology, or sexual identity.

One of the Max Planck Society's primary goals is to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. We are therefore particularly interested in applications from qualified women and encourage them to apply.

The Max Planck Society is also committed to employing more severely disabled people. Severely disabled people and those with an equivalent status will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified. We therefore explicitly encourage applications from severely disabled people.

We will be assessing applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Please apply via our online application portal and upload your complete application documents (letter of motivation, CV, certificates, reference letters).