Research assistant position for the design and development of polypeptide-based modulators of intrinsically disordered proteins Part-time

Research Assistant Position for the Design and Development of Polypeptide-Based Modulators of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

The Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) at Karolinska Institutet conducts research and teaching within immunology, infection biology, cell biology and cancer. Our key words are multidisciplinary, bridging, national and international collaborations.

The team of Senior Professor David Lane (included in the research group of Marie Arsenian Henriksson), together with the group of Michael Landreh (at Uppsala University), investigates the structure-activity relationships of intrinsically disordered proteins that play key roles in cancer, and translate these insights into the development of lead compounds for disease-related applications.

Your Mission

We are looking for a highly motivated research assistant interested in bridging computational structural biology with experimental biophysics. The successful candidate will work on a project focused on the design and development of polypeptide-based inhibitors targeting intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs); a class of proteins that dynamically adopt multiple conformational states, enabling interactions with a wide range of binding partners and thereby regulating their activity and function.

The research assistant will leverage computational tools and modelling approaches to design proteins and peptides that target and inhibit protein-protein interactions, providing a potential strategy for therapeutically targeting IDPs whose dysregulation is implicated in multiple diseases, including cancer. The research assistant will also subsequently evaluate and validate the designed molecules using biophysical experiments to characterize their structural properties, molecular interactions, stability, and inhibitory activity. Integrating computational design with experimental validation will enable the refinement, optimization and selection of the most promising candidates.

The research assistant will work closely with both research groups, contributing to a collaborative and dynamic research environment. The position offers an opportunity to gain experience at the interface of computational structural biology, protein/peptide design, and experimental biophysics within a vibrant and highly interdisciplinary research setting.

Your Profile

Requirements for the position:

• The candidate should hold a B.S or M.S degree in relevant field.
• You must have a collaborative mindset and be able to work productively in a team, and contribute to a good social and work environment in the laboratory.
• The ability to connect computational predictions with experimental measurements will be particularly valued.

Meritorious:

• Experience or demonstrated interest with data analysis related to computational structural biology and computer-aided drug discovery.
• Experience working with structural biology softwares and databases.
• Strong interest in employing computational approaches to address biologically relevant research questions and develop testable hypothesis.
• Hands-on experience with basic molecular biology techniques and protein biochemistry will be desirable.
• Interested to perform biophysical experiments to integrate computational predictions with experimental measurements.
• The candidate needs to be self-motivated, possess good communication skills, and an aptitude to interact effectively in a highly interdisciplinary research environment.

What Do We Offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. And you get to practice freely in our modern wellness facilities, where trained staff are on site.

Location: Solna