PhD: Artificial Cells, Bioenergetics & Metabolic Design

Kanton Bern; Bern; On-site; CHF 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured doctoral training

Collaborative environment

Strong research infrastructure

International network

Job summary

Kanton Bern seeks a PhD candidate to advance bottom-up synthetic biology by coupling ATP and NAD(P)H regeneration modules to cell-like metabolic pathways. You will implement energy-coupled reaction networks, and encapsulate reaction systems into giant vesicles, exploring self-sustaining compartments for potential biomedical applications.

The four-year SNSF project involves collaboration across institutions (ETH Zürich and University of Bern) and aims at enabling programmable artificial cells for

Qualifications

• MSc degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, biotechnology or a related field.
• Experience in protein purification, enzymology, membrane proteins, cell-free systems, fluorescence microscopy or kinetic modelling is beneficial.
• Strong interest in quantitative biochemistry, bioenergetics and synthetic biology.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative environment.
• Good communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Establish and characterise ATP- and NAD(P)H-dependent reaction networks and couple them to metabolic and biosynthetic processes, such as cell-free protein synthesis.
• Purify and reconstitute membrane proteins into liposomes and GUVs.
• Characterise kinetics, stability and energetic efficiency using spectroscopic techniques and fluorescence microscopy, and support this with quantitative modelling.
• Collaborate closely with the Stavrakis/deMello group at ETH Zürich on microfluidic vesicle production and apply these technologies at the University of Bern.

Skills

Protein purification

Enzymology

Membrane proteins

Cell-free systems

Fluorescence microscopy

Kinetic modelling

Quantitative biochemistry

Bioenergetics

Synthetic biology

Interdisciplinary collaboration

English communication

Education

MSc in Biochemistry

Job description

Kanton Bern seeks a PhD candidate to advance bottom-up synthetic biology by coupling ATP and NAD(P)H regeneration modules to cell-like metabolic pathways. You will implement energy-coupled reaction networks, and encapsulate reaction systems into giant vesicles, exploring self-sustaining compartments for potential biomedical applications.

The four-year SNSF project involves collaboration across institutions (ETH Zürich and University of Bern) and aims at enabling programmable artificial cells for