The team “Structural Biology of Molecular Machines” at the IGBMC in Strasbourg, France, is looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated PhD student. One of the main research axis in the group is the dynein motor protein, a complex and fascinating molecular machine involved in essential cellular processes like mitosis, organelle positioning and the beating of cilia. The aim of the proposed project is to investigate the molecular mechanism of dynein by high-resolution cryoEM. Complementary functional studies will be carried out as well. Preliminary data to demonstrate project feasibility is available.

Applicants should possess a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in the life sciences, or a related discipline. The applicant should have experience in molecular biology as well as protein expression and purification. Experience in protein expression in insect cells and/or yeast would be considered an advantage. Training in cryoEM will be provided. English language skills, the ability to work in a team, initiative, flexibility as well as good organizational and learning skills are required.

The IGBMC is one of the leading biomedical research institutions in Europe with cutting-edge cryo-EM facilities including two Titan Krios electron microscopes as well as a Glacios screening microscope.

Applicants should send a CV, a one-page summary of their research experience and contact details for two referees to Helgo Schmidt on schmidth@igbmc.fr

The starting date is flexible.

Selected publications:
Busselez J, Koenig G, Sosnowski P, Klos T, Gizardin-Fredon H, Cianferani S, Dominique C, Henry Y, Anthony H, Schmidt H (2024) “Remodelling of Rea1 linker domain drives the removal of assembly factors from pre-ribosomal particles.” Nature Communications: doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54698-w

Fagiewicz R, Crucifix C., Klos T, Deville C., Kieffer B, Nominé Y, Busselez J., Rossolillo P and Schmidt H (2022)”In vitro characterization of the full-length human dynein-1 cargo adaptor BicD2″, Structure: 30:1470-1478

Sosnowski P., Urnavicius L., Boland A., Fagiewicz R., Busselez J.,  Papai G. and Schmidt H (2018) “The CryoEM structure of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosome maturation factor Rea1.” eLife: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39163

Schmidt H (2015) “Dynein motors: How AAA+ ring opening and closing coordinates microtubule binding and linker movement.” Bioessays: 37: 532-543.