Postdoctoral Researcher in “Lipid Network Reconstruction and Computational Modeling for Inherited Metabolic Diseases

Your duties

The position is embedded in Recon4IMD, an EU-funded consortium of membrane biochemists, systems biologists, clinical researchers and patient organizations who seek to accelerate the diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) by personalized genomic, proteomic and metabolomic data-driven computer models (www.recon4imd.org). For modeling IMDs that affect lipid metabolism (e.g. Gaucher, Niemann-Pick), the successful candidate will collaborate with computational biologists and bioinformaticians to reconstruct the highly interconnected and compartmentalized lipid metabolic network. Databases and biochemical literature on lipid metabolic enzymes, transporters and lipidomes will be curated to reconstruct the differentiated lipid composition of organellar bilayers in disease-relevant cell types and organs (e.g. macrophages, liver, brain) as well as the localization of hydrophobic reactions to each membrane and biofluid compartment. In parallel, isotope labeling experiments with patient-derived cell lines will be combined with organellar lipidomics to infer the impact of IMDs on the lipid metabolic network, evaluate computational data, and explore options for therapeutic intervention. Collectively, these efforts will enable Recon4IMD to develop the most advanced metabolic models in the field of systems biology for the diagnosis and management of IMDs.
Key references: Sokoya et al., 2022, eLife 11, e79278; Thiele et al., 2020, Molecular Systems Biology 16, e8982; Pekkinen et al., 2019, JCI Insight 4, e126180; Holthuis and Menon, 2014, Nature 510, 48-57

Required qualifications

• PhD degree in biology, biochemistry or bioinformatics
• Solid background in lipid cell biology, membrane biochemistry and/or biomolecular mass spectrometry
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Strong communication skills and ability to initiate productive collaborations across a pan-European network of research institutes, academic hospitals and patient organizations
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken

We offer

• A cutting-edge research project at the interface of membrane enzymology, medical biochemistry and systems biology with ample opportunities for developing an extensive academic network
• State-of-the-art instrumental infrastructure in a cooperative working environment (CellNanOS; https://www.cellnanos.uni-osnabrueck.de/en)
• Participation in the Collaborative Research Center SFB 1557 „Functional plasticity of cellular membrane networks” and its support programs (https://irtg.uni-osnabrueck.de/application/sfb-1557.html)
• Collegial cooperation in an interdisciplinary and international research team working on fundamental and disease-relevant aspects of lipid cell biology
• UOS is located in the historical town of Osnabrück, the only German city situated in a national park

Conditions of employment

• The application deadline is 30 June 2023. The position will be filled as soon as possible
• The position is temporarily limited until 31.05.2027
• Salary is at the E13/100% level according to the German TV-L scale
• UOS is a family-friendly university and committed to helping working/studying parents balance their family and working lives
• UOS seeks to ensure equal opportunities for women and men and strives to correct any gender imbalance in its schools and departments
• If two candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to the candidate with disability status

How to apply

Applications including an informative letter of motivation, curriculum vitae with list of publications as well as the names and contact details of two academic referees should be sent as a single PDF-document by June 30th, 2023 to Prof. Dr. Joost Holthuis (holthuis@uos.de). Further information can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Joost Holthuis (holthuis@uos.de; Phone +49 541 969 7140).

PhD student & Diploma/MSc positions

Our division is constantly seeking for highly motivated PhD and Diploma/Master students to work on molecular and cell biological aspects of membrane lipid transport and homeostasis. Following a strictly interdisciplinary approach, we combine a wide array of techniques that include the application of bifunctional lipid analogues to capture novel lipid effectors and homeostatic machinery to cell-free expression/reconstitution of membrane proteins, high-resolution live cell imaging and studies in genetically tractable organisms (yeast, C. elegans). Besides direct access to state-of-the-art facilities in chemical biology, biophysics, proteomics, lipidomics and advanced microscopy, we offer a scientifically inspiring environment with great opportunities for collaborative projects at the interface of different disciplines.

Students of different nationalities work in our division, and so the language of all our group meetings and research seminars is English. We are very interested in international scientific exchange and thus explicitly encourage foreign students to apply for positions. Interested candidates should have a background in (bio)chemistry, molecular cell biology and/or biophysics, a good working knowledge of English, well-developed communication skills, and a strong motivation to work in an international team on exciting topics in membrane biology. Please send us your CV, including a cover letter that describes your ambitions and motivation to work with us. For any questions, feel free to contact Joost Holthuis via phone or email.

Post-doc positions

If you are interested in doing a post-doc in our division, please do write us at anytime. Post-docs usually come to our lab on an EMBO or Marie-Curie Fellowship. Not all fellowships are open to all nationalities and therefore strategies have to be specifically devised. We will, however, be committed to help with these applications. Be aware that such applications need to be arranged well in advance, so please contact us in due course.