PhD on signaling with artificial cells

Are you inspired by how living cells operate and do you want to explore novel routes how to create life-like systems? This project will allow you to develop innovative methods for communication between artificial cells and their environment.

Information
Living cells interact with their environment using molecules for communication. A particularly versatile approach is the use of transmembrane receptors, which pick up a signal from the extracellular milieu and pass it on into the cell to trigger a biological response. Artificial cells aim to mimic living ones in their function. Transmembrane communication is however still underexplored. If successfully installed, it would create great opportunities to apply artificial cells as a platform for biomedical research. In particular, this could be used for lead compound screening in the drug development field. Based on exciting preliminary results in the group you will explore, using a combination of protein engineering, synthetic biology and supramolecular chemistry techniques, possibilities to create biomimetic signaling pathways. Artificial cells will be able to interact and respond to their environment and you will investigate if they can also communicate with living cells.

You will be positioned in the Bio-organic Chemistry lab (https://vanhestlab.nl/) where we have ample experience in artificial cell research. Your project is embedded in the ERC Advanced grant program PRO-ARTIS, in which you will collaborate with colleagues to push the boundaries of artificial cell research forward.