DFG-funded PhD position (f/m/x) in Protein Biochemistry

• Investigate the triggers and mechanisms of co-translational protein quality control processes using human cell lines and state-of-the-art biochemical, genetic, and proteomics experiments;
• Implement methods to identify specific ribosome interactors;
• Obtain and validate CRISPR/Cas9 knockout human cell lines;
• Record, analyze, and present experimental data, contributing to scientific publications;
• Manage your own research project with direct supervision by the PI.

• Highly qualified and motivated students holding a M.Sc. or equivalent degree in cell/molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedicine or related field;
• Prior research experience in biochemistry and/or molecular biology;
• Enthusiasm for protein biochemistry and mechanism-driven basic research;
• Excellent problem-solving skills, and a high level of commitment, perseverance and positivity;
• Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative team;
• Excellent communication in English (written and speech).

• Opportunity to do cutting edge science in an inclusive and collaborative team;
• Close support and mentoring by the PI;
• A diverse working environment with equal opportunities;
• Possibility to develop side projects according to personal interests;
• Modern laboratories and infrastructure for training and research;
• Access to core facilities offering state-of-the-art technologies (see CMMC facilities and CECAD facilities);
• Extensive training opportunities;
• A thriving research community, with many internationally-recognized research institutes in direct reach: Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), Max-Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne Center for Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, and many research institutes of the University of Cologne;
• A structured graduate program held in English, fostering career development through scientific and soft skills training;
• Salary according to the German salary scale TV-L, following the Act of Academic Fixed-Term Contract (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz – WissZeitVG).
• Flexible working time models to support family life.

Working at the University Hospital Cologne and the Medical Faculty means helping to shape the future - the future of medicine, of patients and, of course, your own future. You benefit from 60 clinics and institutes as well as numerous other departments and facilities and more than 12,000 jobs. The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cologne and the University Hospital Cologne assume important social tasks in research, teaching and patient care. A close network with many university and non-university partners guarantees an internationally successful science and the excellent education of our students.

Research overview:

Proteins are molecular machines that control and execute virtually all cellular processes. The intricacy of the protein synthesis process, requiring the transfer of information from DNA to RNA and finally to protein, provides many opportunities for error.  Moreover, to exert their function proteins must adopt specific tridimensional structures, which are often difficult to achieve and maintain. Misfolded proteins are not only dysfunctional, but they can also coalesce into potentially toxic aggregates that are considered a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, cells are equipped with a complex and adaptive network of factors that support protein folding and address defective proteins for elimination. The central interest of our laboratory is to understand how protein quality control pathways distinguish between functional and aberrant protein species, and how they make the decision between repair and degradation. We are particularly interested in quality control processes engaged during translation at the ribosome, with emphasis on problematic translation events at the Endoplasmic Reticulum membrane (see Eisenack and Trentini Front Mol Biosci 2023 for an overview of this topic). We use a combination of genetic (CRISPR-Cas), biochemical, chemical-biology, and mass spectrometry-based approaches to mechanistically characterize protein quality control pathways in human cells, as well as to evaluate cellular consequences upon their failure.

Please visit CMMC -Trentini-Lab to learn more about the group’s interests and ongoing research.