EU-funded PhD Position in Computational Biophysics

Organisation/Company Saarland University Department Theoretical Biophysics Research Field Physics » Biophysics Physics » Computational physics Chemistry » Computational chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Germany Application Deadline 30 Jul 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A PhD position is available in the group of Prof. Jochen Hub at Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany. Saarland University is a research university of international renown, offering an excellent research environment for biophysics. Our group combines molecular dynamics simulations with machine learning techniques to understand how proteins, biomembranes, and small drug-like molecules interact to enable key biological functions in health and disease.

The PhD project will be carried out within the EU-funded Doctoral Network (DN) "WATER" under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01-01), together with leading researchers across Europe. You will become part of a cohort of 13 PhD students jointly trained in modern biophysical techniques involving both computational and experimental approaches. While your PhD project will be purely computational, you will closely collaborate with our key partner at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland). Two secondments—one in a research-oriented startup company in Lausanne and one with another computational academic partner—are anticipated.

Payment will be according to EU regulations and will include a mobility allowance and, if applicable, a family allowance. The employment will initially be limited to three years.

Membrane fusion is a key process during viral infection, molecular signaling, and drug delivery by lipid nanoparticles. Rationally controlling fusion—either to inhibit viral infection or to drive drug release—is a central goal of membrane biophysics. Our group has developed techniques based on molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations for studying large-scale membrane transitions, such as membrane fusion and transmembrane pore formation. In this project, you will develop free energy calculation techniques to understand how membrane composition, membrane-active proteins, and membrane hydration control membrane fusion. We aim to develop new approaches to better understand the fusion pathway and to manipulate fusion in the context of health and disease.

Start date: As soon as possible.

Applicants should have a university degree in physics, physical chemistry, or biophysics (or near completion). Experience with molecular dynamics simulations, programming (C/C++ or Python), and shell scripting is beneficial. Good communication skills are required, as the position involves collaboration with experimental partners throughout Europe. Most important is a strong interest in computational biophysics.

Important: Applicants must not have resided in Germany for more than 12 months in the past three years.

Please send your full application to Prof. Jochen Hub (officehub@uni-saarland.de ) by July 30, 2025. Please include, as a single PDF, your CV, publication record, all academic certificates (including transcripts), university entrance exams (corresponding to the German Abitur), and the names of two references who are willing to provide letters of recommendation upon request. We request that you send copies of your documents, as no returns will be made. The documents will be destroyed after a holding period of five months.

Saarland University aims to increase the proportion of women in this field. Therefore, women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications from individuals with disabilities will be given preference in cases of equal qualification.