Job Description

PhD Position

Are you keen to progress glycoscience research across disciplines? Do you have research experience and a keen interest in developing new physics, chemistry and biology tools to reveal the self-organisation and barrier functions of the mammalian glycocalyx?

Applications are invited for 15 PhD positions, each for 36 months, to work in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network GLYCOCALYX.

About the Network

GLYCOCALYX brings together 15 leading European partners in a transnational network, implementing a multidisciplinary and intersectorial research and training programme between the academic and industrial partners, to research the self-organisation and barrier functions of the mammalian glycocalyx.

Virtually all mammalian cells are covered with a dense and complex coat of sugar chains (glycans) known as the glycocalyx, which is essential for multicellular life. Glycocalyces accomplish critical functions in inter-cellular communication, controlling tissue development, homeostasis and repair, inflammatory and immune responses, neuronal connectivity, and symbiosis with bacteria. However, when dysregulated, they can promote immune diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer. Glycocalyces also act as the first line of defence against pathogens, but some pathogens have evolved to hijack the glycocalyx to promote infection.

Despite their importance, mammalian glycocalyces remain the ‘dark matter’ of biology, under-studied owing to the historical lack of preparative and analytical tools to probe the local molecular composition and transient interactions of molecules within glycocalyces, and missing physics rules to interpret experimental observations.

The GLYCOCALYX Network will train 15 PhD Fellows in chemistry, physics and biology methods and concepts required to resolve the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces. The project will establish a new level of understanding of how glycocalyces perform their many selective barrier functions. The PhD Fellows will receive cutting edge scientific training, alongside industry-relevant transferable skills, to equip them for careers in the medical technology sector and its underpinning research and innovations

About Massive Photonics

Massive Photonics is pioneering DNA-based super-resolution microscopy technologies for spatial proteomics. We are enabling academic and industrial scientists to understand molecular processes in healthy and diseased cells and tissues with unparalleled levels of spatial resolution and multiplexing capabilities. 

About the PhD project -DC09 -Lectin-based labels for glycan imaging using DNA-PAINT super-resolution microscopy

The ability to visualise glycans with high specificity and resolution is crucial for understanding their role in various biological processes and diseases. Current glycocalyx analysis is restricted by the lack of probes that specifically and efficiently target glycans. The goal of this project is to develop lectin-based labels for specific and quantitative glycan imaging.​ Specific aims are: 1) Establish conjugates of commercially sourced lectins with fluorescent dye (for conventional fluorescence microscopy) and DNA (for DNA-PAINT microscopy), and screen for their suitability for cellular glycocalyx imaging; 2) Recombinantly express new lectin variants with site-specific labelling tags for quantitative super-resolved glycan visualisation. Lectin conjugates will be screened for their glycan binding kinetics by BLI or SPR, followed by two-step imaging validation: conventional diffraction-limited microscopy with lectin-dye conjugates followed by super-resolution DNA-PAINT microscopy using lectin-DNA conjugates.

Main activities and applied methods:

• Develop bioconjugation protocols for lectins with fluorophores and DNA
• Develop and optimize strategies for super-resolution imaging of glycans
• Design and perform experiments and workflows for high-content fluorescence imaging
• Sample preparation using mammalian cell culture and immunostaining techniques
• Plasmid cloning, protein expression, and purification 

The candidate will be employed at Massive Photonics GmbH while being enrolled as a PhD student at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), benefiting from both industrial and academic supervision and participating in international training and research secondments within the GLYCOCALYX doctoral network.

Eligibility

To meet the requirements of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, you will be eligible to start postgraduate studies towards your first doctoral degree (PhD), and have not lived or carried out your main activity (work/study) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

Salary

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellow salary is fixed in line with MSCA Doctoral Network requirements with Germany weighting plus family allowance if applicable. This amount will be subject to tax, National Insurance deductions and paid in Euro.

Where to apply

E-mail

info@massive-photonics.com

Requirements

Research Field

Chemistry » Biochemistry

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Physics » Biophysics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Essential

• Hold a Master’s or equivalent degree in (Bio)physics, (Bio)chemistry, Molecular Biology, or Biotechnology.
• Strong interest in fluorescence microscopy, super-resolution microscopy (e.g. DNA-PAINT, dSTORM), and bioconjugation chemistries
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Willingness to travel within Europe for network activities and secondments

Desirable

• Experience in fluorescence microscopy
• Experience in protein expression and purification
• Experience in mammalian cell culture techniques and sample preparation for fluorescence microscopy

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information

Benefits

• A competitive MSCA salary
• Cutting-edge scientific training and industry-relevant transferable skills
• A friendly, modern working environment with state-of-the-art microscopy equipment
• A flat hierarchy with efficient and dynamic communication
• A flexible working time arrangement
• Comprehensive training events as part of the Doctoral Network program

Eligibility criteria

To meet the requirements of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network:

• You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work or study) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment.
• You must not have been awarded a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment.
• There are no restrictions on nationality. Candidates must have or be able to obtain the right to work in Germany. This may involve obtaining an appropriate visa.

Selection process

Interested in joining our team? Please send your application to info@massive-photonics.com.

Please include the following documents in your application:

• Cover Letter explaining your interest in the project
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Academic transcripts
• Contact information for two referees or letters of recommendation

Website for additional job details

https://www.glycocalyx.org/phd-projects