PhD position in macromolecular crowding during ageing

Are you curious about the fundamental molecular changes that occur during ageing and disease? Utrecht University offers a PhD position on the role of macromolecular crowding in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases, studied in the model organism C. elegans.

Your job
The living cell is highly crowded with macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Proteins are continuously at risk of aggregation, which is a hallmark of ageing and of many human neurodegenerative diseases. The group of Dr Tessa Sinnige at the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research investigates the molecular mechanisms of protein aggregation in vivo, using the nematode C. elegans as a multicellular model organism. In this PhD position, you will:

• collaborate with the group of Dr Arnold Boersma at the Bijvoet Centre to develop novel sensors for measuring macromolecular crowding in C. elegans;
• use advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques, complemented by molecular biology and biochemical methods;
• be an active member of an open and interdisciplinary research team;
• learn to independently collect, analyse and interpret your data, share your data at national and international conferences, and prepare manuscripts for publication;
• contribute to teaching at Utrecht University by supervising BSc and MSc students, and assisting in courses and outreach activities.

You are a curious and open-minded researcher who meets several or all of the following criteria:

• an MSc degree in molecular life sciences, biochemistry, biophysics or a related discipline (required);
• experience with sterile microbiological work or cell culture;
• interest in using C. elegans as a model organism;
• the ability to lead your own project;
• affinity with learning new techniques and working in an interdisciplinary environment;
• excellent writing and presenting skills in English;
• Dutch communication skills are an advantage for teaching and outreach activities.

• A cutting-edge collaborative PhD project;
• a position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
• a gross monthly salary between €3,059 and €3,881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

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Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry is an international and interdisciplinary research group that focuses on protein and lipid homeostasis, which we study from the single molecule level up to the multicellular model organism C. elegans. The Sinnige lab uses transgenic nematodes to study the misfolding and aggregation of proteins involved in e.g. Parkinson’s disease and type II diabetes. In collaboration with other groups within the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research in the Department of Chemistry, we aim to apply biophysical and structural biology methods to examine protein misfolding and its relation to ageing and disease in molecular detail.

For more information, please contact Tessa Sinnige at t.sinnige1@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.