Postdoctoral Position(s) –
Mechanisms of Assemblies
Formation Essential to Muscle Function

EMBL Grenoble
specializes in fundamental research in structural biology, and
in developing
state-of-the art instrumentation, methods and services. The site
is located on
the dynamic European Photon and Neutron science campus (EPN
campus), together
with other international and French research institutions.

We are
recruiting a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Scientist to join
the Head of
Unit’s Research Group at EMBL Grenoble, Kristina Djinovic
Carugo. The
Djinovic group is interested in the molecular mechanisms
underlying the
architecture and assembly of muscle sarcomeres, particular
Z-discs.

The sarcomere –
the basic contractile unit of myocytes – assembles from nascent
actin-rich
Z-bodies into paracrystalline multiprotein structures called
Z-discs. Yet, the
assembly rules and protein components regulating these complex
structures
remain largely unknown. We recently discovered that two main
Z-disc proteins
form phase-separated liquid condensates in vitro, which gives
rise to the
exciting hypothesis that phase separation is the driving force
behind Z-disc
assembly by bringing together its proteins to facilitate
interactions.

Djinovic Group
is a member of the collaborative project “From disorder to
order: mechanism of
specialised assemblies formation essential for muscle
function” supported by
HFSP Award. Its aim is to investigate how highly ordered
sarcomeric Z-disc
structure arises from disordered Z-bodies. We will determine
the biophysical
and structural principles underlying sarcomere cytoskeleton
assembly in
biogenesis, molecular components, and regulators and integrate
the data into a
4D multiscale integrative molecular model.

The
collaborative team united by HFSP Award will capitalise on
complementary and
synergistic expertise in structural biology and modelling
(Kristina Djinovic
Carugo, EMBL Grenoble; France and Toshiyuki Oda, University of
Tokyo, Japan),
advanced imaging (Jonas Ries, University of Vienna, Austria) and
cardiovascular
development and disease (Travis Hinson, The Jackson Laboratory,
Farmington, CT,
USA) and adopt a multifaceted and multiscale approach to tackle
the central
questions on sarcomere cytoskeleton assembly in biogenesis at
the molecular and
structural level.

Your role

You will embark
on an exciting journey to decipher the structures of selected
reconstituted
complexes and macromolecular condensates using an integrative
structural
biology approach, which encompasses molecular biophysics
characterisation,
combined with small angles X-ray scattering, macromolecular
crystallography,
and cryo-electron microscopy/tomography, depending on their size
and dynamics.
As a team member, you will play a crucial role in uncovering the
detailed
biophysical and structural principles that regulate complex
assembly. Joining
collaborative efforts, you will contribute to the generation of
a 4D multiscale
integrative molecular model.

Apply
now

Closing date: 31 October
2023

• Contract duration: 3 years
• Grading: stipend
• Reference number: GR00215

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You have

• PhD degree in a relevant field with
  strong background in structural biology.
• Experience in molecular cloning,
  expression, and purification of protein complexes is
  essential.
• Prior knowledge of crystallography
  and/or single-particle electron microscopy is needed.
• Track record of writing papers as
  evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts.
• Ability to work independently and also
  to interact within a group.
• Excellent communication skills,
  including the ability to write for publication and present
  results at scientific meetings.

You might also
have

• Previous experience in complementary
  structural biology methods (e.g. SAXS), molecular and cell
  biophysics approaches and cell culture will be considered an
  advantage.
• Experience with cryo-electron
  tomography.
• Experience with working in
  multidisciplinary research teams.

Why join us

EMBL is
curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an
inclusive, equal
opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to
collaborate more
effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are,
therefore, committed
to creating an inclusive and flexible culture – one where
everyone can realise
their full potential and make a positive contribution to our
organisation.

We encourage
applications from individuals who can complement our existing
team – we believe
that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and
personal
experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our
science serves.
We actively encourage applications from all genders and
cultures, ethnic groups
and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and
oversights at
this transformational point in our people strategy.

EMBL offers
attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an
international research
organisation with a very collegial and family-friendly working
environment.
Competitive salary and social security benefits, financial
support for
relocation, a relaxed culture, professional development, canteen
and other
staff facilities make EMBL a great place to work.

** Don’t meet
every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a
diverse, inclusive and
authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but
your past
experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in
the job
description, we encourage you to apply nevertheless.

What else you
need to know

We are Europe’s
research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental
organisation
performing scientific research in disciplines including
molecular biology,
physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an
international, innovative
and interdisciplinary laboratory with more than 1900 employees
from many
nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ),
Barcelona, Hinxton
near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome.

Our mission is
to offer vital services in training scientists, students and
visitors at all
levels; to develop new instruments and methods in the life
sciences and
actively engage in technology transfer activities, and to
integrate European
life science research. The working language of the institute is
English.

In your online
application, you will be asked to include a cover letter, CV and
the contact
details of 3 referees.

Apply here:

https://www.embl.org/jobs/apply/?jobId=QHPFK026203F3VBQB688N79SB-6738&langCode=en_GB

Contract
duration:
This position is a 3 year contract.

EMBL is a
signatory of DORA.
Find out how we implement best practices in research assessment
in our
recruitment processes here.

Job
advertisements to Post-Doctoral positions in labs of Travis
and Ries labs
can be found here:

Ries:

Postdoc
for super-resolution microscopy of muscle cells

Travis:

https://thejacksonlaboratory.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External_JAX/details/Postdoctoral-Associate—Molecular-Biology_JR002268?q=hinson

Additional
Information

Informal
inquiries about this project and position should be sent to
Kristina Djinovic
Carugo (kristina.djinovic@embl.org),
inquiries about the positions in Hinson and Riels labs to Travis
Hinson (travis.hinson@jax.org) and
Jonas Ries (Jonas.ries@univie.ac.at).

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