Snabbfakta
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- London
Ansök senast: 2025-02-17
MSCA Fellowship - PhD Student in Dynamic Polymeric Synthetic Cells
This post is part of the new EU Horizon Europe Funded Doctoral Network, ComeInCell (Condensates at Membrane Scaffolds - Integrated Systems as Synthetic Cell Compartments, ). ComeInCell is a European Doctoral Network at the forefront of synthetic cell research and brings together a diverse team of experts in 8 different countries. Through industry-academia placements the network provides state-of-the-art training for early-stage researchers (ESR).
ComeInCell offers a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research in the field of Synthetic Biology, working at the intersection of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. The project will explore how membranes and condensates together regulate protein function and drive cellular processes, towards development of innovative biomimetic platforms. These platforms will provide a deeper understanding of essential cellular processes like membrane trafficking and pathologies like neurodegenerative diseases and will open new avenues for drug discovery and therapeutic interventions. You will benefit from a diverse and interdisciplinary training program, including placements in leading labs and collaborations with industry partners, gaining hands-on experiences in different labs, building connections with peers and mentors. The network fosters a rich environment for innovation and skill development, equipping students to lead in both academic and industrial sectors.
You will be recruited for a duration of 36 months and must work towards a PhD at Imperial College London. You will work on an independent research project related to synthetic cell research and will undertake four periods of placement to other academic or industry institutes.
The Research Assistant post and the PhD will commence in October 2025.
You will take a lead role on designing dynamic polymeric synthetic cells. This research project aims to advance synthetic cell technology by developing synthetic constructs that mimic the structural and functional characteristics of biological cells. Focusing on the interaction between condensates and polymeric membranes, the project seeks to induce and control specific transformations in artificial cells. By leveraging polymer science, you will manipulate the composition, morphology, and topology of these cells, facilitating dynamic behaviours such as membrane fusion, deformation, patterning, and division. Employing a combination of polymer synthesis, condensate dynamics studies, and advanced imaging techniques, the project intends to deepen our understanding of membrane-condensate interactions and develop new artificial cell designs.
The project will include placements at Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany (DImova Lab), the University of Santiago De Campostela in Spain (Montenegro Lab), University of Cambridge in the UK (Di Michele Lab) and the University of Surrey in the UK (Guido Lab).
Eligibility requirements:
