PhD Position in Chemical Proteomics

Protein lipidation is the covalent attachment of lipids to proteins, regulating their trafficking, protein–protein interactions, and stability. This post-translational modification is dynamically controlled by families of lipidation 'writers' and 'erasers', which collectively modify over 1,500 proteins and influence many aspects of human biology in both health and disease. Protein lipidation plays a key role in (neuro)inflammatory disorders, and its writers and erasers are emerging as promising drug targets.

Your job
In this project, you will apply chemical proteomics strategies in cells and tissues to study the role and regulation of protein lipidation and drug target engagement, in (neuro)inflammatory disorders. You will be combining click chemistry, tissue culture, and proteomics mass spectrometry, developing and applying new analytical strategies to identify new therapeutic opportunities.

You will undertake a challenging and multidisciplinary PhD project in an international team with a broad spectrum of expertise. Throughout the course of this PhD project, you will grow into an independent scientist and expert in chemical proteomics.

You will join a multidisciplinary laboratory with world-leading expertise and infrastructure in proteomics and mass spectrometry. Our lab combines state-of-the-art chemical proteomics with in-house molecular biology and tissue culture facilities. This environment provides a unique opportunity to develop and apply pioneering strategies to study protein lipidation, as well as drug-target engagement and selectivity using advanced chemical proteomics approaches.

You are a driven researcher, who meets several or all of the following criteria:

• a Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical/Molecular Biology or a related field;
• experience in proteomics mass-spectrometry (a plus, but not required at the start);
• excellent written and spoken English skills;
• experience in organic synthesis;
• team work skills, and the ability to work independently in a highly multidisciplinary environment;
• strong writing and presentation skills.

• A PhD position in an international multidisciplinary lab;
• A full-time position for 18 months, with extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment;
• a gross monthly salary between €3,059 and €3,881 (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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You will work in a subgroup focused on protein lipidation within the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry group. This group is part of Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research within the department of Chemistry. The research in the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics groups focuses on the use of mass spectrometry to understand the inner workings of cells. Mass spectrometry enables the characterisation of molecules that are present in cells and allows thereby the identification and characterization of proteins and other biomolecules that work together and are involved in cellular processes and in disease. We house an excellent array of state-of-the-art mass spectrometers, combined with extensive protein and peptide separation methods. We also have world-renowned expertise in the analysis of protein-ligand, protein-protein and protein-DNA analysis by mass spectrometry. Therefore, dedicated mass spectrometers and LC methods have been and are developed allowing the analysis of the structure and function of protein machineries.