PhD Position in Structural Biology – Nuclear Receptors
Location: LMU Munich, Department of Pharmacy
The research group of Prof. Daniel Merk at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our team in the Department of Pharmacy.
This PhD project aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of nuclear receptor interactions with small-molecule ligands to support structure-based therapeutic development. The exact focus of the project will be defined together with the successful candidate. The primary experimental approaches will include recombinant protein expression and purification, crystallization, X-ray data collection, and structure determination. Additional methods will comprise biophysical binding assays (e.g., BLI, ITC) and biochemical activity measurements(e.g., HTRF).
For more information about our research, please refer to recent publications from our group.
Who we are looking for
The ideal candidate will have:
• An MSc degree in biochemistry, structural biology, or a related discipline
• Hands-on experience in recombinant protein expression and purification
• Some familiarity with X-ray protein crystallography (welcome but not required)
• Curiosity, teamwork skills, and the ability to take initiative in driving your project
What we offer
• A 3-year PhD position with a competitive salary (50% TV-L E13)
• Training in cutting-edge structural biology methods
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a fully equipped protein crystallography laboratory, regular synchrotron beamtime, and advanced biophysical instrumentation
• A supportive, collaborative, and interdisciplinary environment
How to apply
Please send the following documents in a single PDF file to vasily.morozov at cup.lmu.de:
• Your CV
• A cover letter describing your research experience and motivation
• Contact information for two references