Area of research:

PHD Thesis

Job description:

Helmholtz Zentrum München is a research center with the mission to discover personalized medical solutions for the prevention and therapy of environmentally triggered diseases and promote a healthier society in a rapidly changing world.

At our institute you will find a scientifically stimulating international environment. Together with renowned scientists and supported by an excellent infrastructure you will have the opportunity to make an important contribution for a healthier society.

The Niessing lab at the is a multidisciplinary team with expertise ranging from structural biology and structure-based drug optimization, biophysical interaction studies to high-through-put approaches and stem cell-based research. Doing a PhD in this unusually multidisciplinary setting will teach you to a wide range of methods and exposes you to a rather holistic view on biological questions. This breath of approaches is further supported by close interactions with the Niessing lab at the Ulm University.

One of our core projects deals with new treatment strategies for so-called poly-glutamine (polyQ) diseases. This family of diseases, which includes for instance Huntington’s disease, is caused by abnormally high numbers of trinucleotide repeats that are translated into neurotoxic polyQ stretches in resulting proteins. Such polyQ stretches cause the proteins to form large intracellular aggregates, which destroy neurons over time. To date, no approved treatment against the cause of neurodegeneration is available. In the announced project, a new treatment strategy will be employed with the goal to develop a preventive drug.

PhD candidate – new drugs target against neurodegenerative polyQ disorders (f/m/x)101069

Full time

Neuherberg near Munich

PhD

Together with our collaboration partner from the RWTH Aachen, we established a comprehensive research program towards the treatment of polyQ diseases. We discovered and characterized an RNA-binding protein as modulator and hence drug target to prevent the formation of polyQ aggregates. In animal disease models and in patient-derived cell lines did knock-out and knock-down of this factor result in the loss of neurotoxicity and aggregates.

In the last four years, the Niessing group has established the biochemical and cell biological foundation for a large-scale inhibitor screen, which is currently ongoing. Furthermore, together with structural and biophysical work this project aims at understanding the action of this RNA-binding protein and the molecular mechanisms by which it prevents the formation of neurotoxic aggregates.

Your mission

Together with a BMBF-funded postdoc, your task will be to assess molecular pathways with regards to their impact on cellular functions of our drug target. Your project will involve identifying and confirming novel protein- and RNA-interaction partners, cell-based assessment of the proteins function and its impact on polyQ aggregation, as well as structural assessment of the co-complex with RNA. This thesis will offer an unusually wide spectrum of techniques and will be embedded in an exciting research program with direct links to translational science.

Your qualifications

• • Appropriate studies (Master of Science / Diploma) in biology, biochemistry or related disciplines
  • Biochemical experience
  • Expertise in human/mouse cell culture is of advantage
  • No expertise in structural biology required
  • Strong interest and ambition to learn about RNA-based regulatory networks and related diseases
  • Knowledge of molecular biology
  • High motivation, flexibility and teamwork

What we offer you

scientific training at Graduate School
work-life balance
flexible working hours & time off in lieu
30 days annual leave
on-site health management service
career consultation
mobile work
on-site nursery
company pension scheme discounted public transport ticket
Munich, with its numerous lakes and its vicinity to the Alps, is considered to be one of the cities with the best quality of life worldwide. With its first-class universities and world-leading research institutions it offers an intellectually stimulating environment.

This position also provides the opportunity for you to build specialist knowledge and collect significant professional experience, both of which will help advance your scientific career.

Remuneration and social benefits are based on the collective wage agreement for public-sector employees at federal level (EG 13 50% TV EntgO Bund). In addition, there is also the possibility of granting an allowance amounting to 15% if the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The position is (initially) limited to three years, but under certain circumstances an extension can be arranged.

To promote diversity, we welcome applications from talented people regardless of cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity, physical abilities, religion and age. Qualified applicants with physical disabilities will be given preference.

Interested?If you have further questions, simply contact Prof. Dr. Dierk Niessing at niessing@helmholtz-muenchen.de, who will be happy to be of assistance.
Helmholtz Zentrum München
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH)
Institute of Structural Biology
Ingolstädter Landstraße 1

85764 Oberschleißheim

Award for excellent gender equality policy for women and men. Helmholtz Zentrum München is particularly committed to promoting professional equality between women and men. It therefore aims to increase the proportion of the underrepresented sex in the respective field. The Helmholtz Zentrum München is part of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest scientific organization. Altogether 42.000 people currently work in its 19 scientific-technical and biological-medical research centers. The Association’s annual budget amounts to around 5 billion Euros.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organisation.