The positions are part of the project ‘Determining steric exclusion at the plasma membrane with DNA nanostructures’ funded by the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF). In the project, we want to understand the role of membrane protein crowding during the activation of T cells, which are key players of adaptive immunity. PhD candidate 1 will design via DNA nanotechnology new nanostructures that anchor to the plasma membrane of living T cells. The DNA nanostructures’ trajectories on the membrane will then be uncovered using single molecule fluorescence microscopy by PhD candidate 2. The experimental data and complementary Monte Carlo simulations will be key to improve our models of T cell activation. The two PhD students will work as a team primarily at TU Wien.

We offer

• A 3 years PhD contract.
• Competitive salary with all social benefits of a regular employment according to the regulations of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) (currently EUR 2.162,40 before tax). Envisaged starting date: October 1^st 2019.
• Stimulating, interdisciplinary research and high quality international scientific environment.

Requirements:

• Masters degree in (Bio-)Chemistry, (Bio-)Physics or a related area.
• Multidisciplinary qualifications, knowledge of DNA nanotechnology, and a willingness to collaborate with specialists on fluorescence microscopy are desirable.
• High level of English and good communication skills.