PhD position in Structural Biology of Cytoskeleton

Job description
Movement in animals is carried out by striated muscle, the contractile unit of which is the sarcomere. The Z-disks, which define the lateral boundaries, have α-actinin as their major component, which plays a key role in cross-linking actin and titin filaments. Actin and myosin filaments power contraction whereas titin restricts the extent to which the sarcomere can expand.

The research group of Kristina Djinovic-Carugo at the Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Austria has an open PhD position to work on structural and functional studies of actin-based cytoskeleton of striated muscle. The focus of the project is structural and biophysical characterization of selected complexes centred on the major muscle Z-disk protein α-actinin. A hybrid approach using a complementary combination of structural and biophysical methods will be used.

Candidate requirements

Applicants should have a M.Sc./diploma in molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chemistry or a related discipline and a strong interest in structure-function studies of proteins. Experience in molecular and cell biological techniques is desirable. Additional skills in protein biochemistry or structural techniques are a plus. Good English language skills are essential; knowledge of German is not required.

About the employer

Djinovic-Carugo aims to understand the molecular architecture and structure/function relationship of muscle Z-disks, which are complex molecular assemblies, using a multidisciplinary approach employing a combination of structural biology, biophysical and biochemical techniques.

Recent group publications:

• Song, J. G., …., Djinović-Carugo, K. (2015) Structural Insights into Ca(2+)-Calmodulin Regulation of Plectin 1a-Integrin beta4 Interaction in Hemidesmosomes. Structure 23, 558-570
• Ribeiro, E. D., …, Djinović-Carugo, K. (2014) The Structure and Regulation of Human Muscle alpha-Actinin. Cell 6, 1447-1460
• Kostan, J., …, Djinović-Carugo, K. (2014) Direct interaction of actin filaments with F-BAR protein pacsin2. EMBO Rep 15, 1154-1162
• Galkin, V. E., …, Djinović-Carugo, K., and Egelman, E. H. (2010) Opening of tandem calponin homology domains regulates their affinity for F-actin. Nat Struct Mol Biol 17, 614-616

The Djinovic-Carugo lab has access to and combines structural biology approaches (X-ray crystallography, small angle X-ray scattering, EM, NMR spectroscopy) with biophysical, biochemical and cell biological analyses. Depending on individual qualifications and interests, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to gain experience in various aspects of this multidisciplinary approach and will be enrolled in the “PhD Program in Integrative Structural Biology” (ISB) funded by the Austrian Science Fund.

Further details

Candidates should be able to start by 1st April 2016 at the latest.

Salary: Austrian Science Fund salary scales.

How to apply

Please see the web-page:

Application webpage: http://www.mfpl.ac.at/phd-program/application/how-to-apply

Application deadline: 15th January  2016

Contact details

Contact person: Kristina Djinovic Carugo
Address: Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Campus Vienna Biocenter 5
Phone: +43-1-4277-52203
Fax: +43-1-4277-9522
Email: kristina.djinovic@univie.ac.at
Webpage: http://www.mfpl.ac.at/groups/mfpl-group/group-info/djinovic.html

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Department of Structural and Computational Biology
Max F. Perutz Laboratories
University of Vienna
Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Campus Vienna Biocenter 5 
A-1030 Vienna
Austria
 
 
e-mail: kristina.djinovic@univie.ac.at
Phone: +43-1-4277-52203
Phone: +43-1-4277-52201 (secretary)
Mobile A: +43-664-602 77-522 03
Fax: +43-1-4277-9522