PhD Position (m/f/d) Protein based 2D materials for medical applications

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht is one of the 19 national institutions of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres e.V. (HGF). Around 1000 employees carry out basic research and development work in close cooperation with national and international research institutions, research-oriented clinics and economic and public institutions.

At the Institute of Biomaterial Science some 100 scientists research multi-functional, polymer-based biomaterials for applications in regernative medicine. Their implants and active agent delivery systems provide customised properties and functions to restore impaired body functions.

PhD Position (m/f/d) Protein based 2D materials for medical applications

Reference code: 50043401_3 – 2020/B 17
Commencement date: as soon as possible for 3 years

The Helmholtz Institute for Biomaterial research of the HZG is focused on highly interdisciplinary research connecting the fields of material science, biology and medicine. For a collaborative project between the department of materials in life sciences and the department of polymers in regeneration, we are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate (m/w/d).

Your tasks
The project is aiming to develop our understanding of the physical and biochemical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and recreating extracellular matrices with tailored properties using the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) approach. The goal of the work will be to understand how tailored and active 2D materials interact with stem cells to open new approaches for cell programming and regenerative medicine.

Your profile

• Master‘s degree or equivalent in biochemistry, biophysics or cell biology with emphasis on membrane proteins, extracellular matrices or similar.
• Experience in protein analysis and characterization, including protein structure analysis, physicochemical properties, biological activity, and immunochemical properties. (1D and 2D SDS-PAGE, western blotting, ELISA, rheology, scattering methods, imaging Analysis).
• Experience in mammalian cell culture, isolation and characterization (FACS, immunostaining)
• Experience with atomic force microscopy and various optical microscopy procedures preferable
• Experience with histological staining techniques favorable
• Proficient with common Office software (PowerPoint, Excel and Word) GraphPad Prism, Photoshop and EndNote. Additional knowledge in FlowJo and Illustrator is desirable but not required.

We offer you
As a PhD student in our institute, you will enroll in the Helmholtz Graduate School for Macromolecular Bioscience (https://www.hzg.de/ms/macrobio/). The graduate school provides you with the opportunity to attend a broad variety of classes, courses and workshops according to your personal requirements, and ensures a close and transparent mentoring by experienced scientists. PhD students are supported at presenting their work at national and international conferences. We further offer flexible working hours and an appropriate salary related to the German public tariff (TV-AVH) plus the usual social benefits for the public employment sector.

The promotion of equal rights is a matter of course for us. Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.

Application deadline: 17.12.2020
Job location: Teltow
Contact: Ms. Vera Milkereit