In cells the concentration of protein molecules is extremely high. During the evolution of the first living cells on earth, the tendency of proteins to aggregate at such high concentrations must have presented a major problem. It is at present largely unclear how nature has solved this challenge, but recent research has revealed that ATP probably plays an important role.

What are you going to do?

In this research project, you will investigate how ATP prevents the aggregation of proteins, using state of the art experimental methods. In particular, you will perform time-resolved studies to see how ATP influences protein aggregation kinetics, and two-dimensional vibrational spectroscopy to probe the interaction between ATP and small peptides; you will analyze and interpret the results; you will report your results in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences; you will be an active member of the Molecular Photonics research group at the University of Amsterdam.

• A PhD degree in physical chemistry or physics;
• good communication skills in oral and written English;
• experience with nonlinear (ideally, IR-)spectroscopy.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week, preferably starting as soon as possible for the duration of 6 months.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,790 to €4,274 (scale 10) gross per month, excluding 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the '30% rule', may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science – Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of the institutes of the Faculty of Science. HIMS performs internationally recognized chemistry and molecular research, curiosity driven as well as application driven. For more information on IR-research at HIMS see our website.