PhD Position Functional Single-Molecule Based Nanoscopy to Shed Light on Huntington's Disease

Interested in advanced microscopy and neurobiology? Curious about interdisciplinary biophysics research into neurodegenerative disease mechanisms? We are looking for you!

Job description
Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by a gene defect resulting in aggregation-prone huntingtin protein. How damage in the brain develops is far from understood however, due to our lack of insight into early processes. In this project, we will address the following key questions, with the use of cell models of Huntington’s disease along with well-controlled lab experiments: How do the physical and chemical properties of protein variants and their environment affect how they clump together and become harmful? What role does phase separation play in Huntington’s disease? How does spreading of proteins outside of cells interfere with protein assemblies in cells?

The diverse sizes and shapes of the aggregates pose a remarkable challenge, and multiple complementary approaches are needed to unravel their shape, structure and characteristics. You will develop and apply functional single-molecule based nanoscopy assays to decipher how aggregates Huntington's disease form and mature. This will allow us to connect what is going on at the molecular level to the disease symptoms at the cellular level.

The position is in the group of Dr. Kristin Grussmayer in the Department of Bionanoscience as part of the team working on the ERC starting grant project QScope (https://www.tudelft.nl/en/2024/tnw/erc-starting-grant-for-shedding-light...). We are an experimental biophysics lab employing super-resolution imaging techniques and quantitative 3D microscopy to improve understanding of cellular structures at the nanometer scale. As a recently started research group, we offer an interactive, supportive and collegial environment. We perform multidisciplinary research where we combine techniques from molecular/cell biology, (physical/bio) chemistry, (bio)physics and optics. To ensure interactions and exchange of ideas, we have regular group and department meetings as well as meetings with the experimental groups we collaborate with.

Job requirements
We seek an outstanding (bio)physicist with a strong affinity for research at the interface of physics and biology and with relevant research experience in fields such as optics/microscopy, programming, molecular, or cell biophysics. We are looking for a candidate with a high level of intellectual creativity, genuine interest in fundamental research, who enjoys collaborations and easily communicates with scientists from different disciplines.

Applicants must

• Hold a Master’s degree, or approach its completion, in physics, nanobiology, chemistry, or a closely related discipline
• Have excellent written and spoken English skills (see below)
• Thrive in an international, ambitious, multidisciplinary, and highly collaborative environment
• Affinity with (functional) super-resolution microscopy or single-molecule imaging and quantitative data analysis pipelines is a plus
• Affinity with neurobiology/neurodegenerative disease is a plus

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Kristin Grussmayer, via k.s.grussmayer@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 5 February 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Detailed CV
• Motivational letter that briefly describes why you apply for this position, your research interests, and your fit to the group and EVOLF
• Names and email addresses of at least 2 references, and why they are competent to assess you

You can address your application to Kristin Grussmayer. You can find more information about our lab on our website. We will perform a rolling evaluation of the applications in batches as they come in.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

36 - 40 hours per week

Mekelweg 5