Postdoc smart multimodal microscopy and nanoscopy to shed light on huntington's disease

Interested in advanced smart 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 smart microscopy (connecting quantitative label-free imaging and functional single-molecule based nanoscopy) to decipher how aggregates in neurodegenerative 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 (). 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.

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, machine learning and cellular 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 PhD, or approach its completion, in physics, physical chemistry, computer science, or a closely related discipline
• Have excellent written and spoken English skills
• Thrive in an international, ambitious, multidisciplinary, and highly collaborative environment
• Experience with advanced microscopy and quantitative data analysis pipelines
• Experience with (functional) super-resolution microscopy or single-molecule imaging and/or quantitative label-free imaging and/or smart microscopy
• Affinity with neurobiology/neurodegenerative disease and phase transitions is a plus

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.

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.

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Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 6 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

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
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