Student Assistant with Bachelor Degree (f / m / d)

Student Assistant with Bachelor Degree (f / m / d)

for the master thesis project "Engineering the human gamma-TuRC in yeast" at the Center of Molecular Biology and Center of Organismic Studies, Heidelberg University, Germany, Groups of Drs. G. Pereira, S. Pfeffer and E. Schiebel

The gamma-TuRC is the principal microtubule organizer in human cells. We resolved its structure using cryo-electron microscopy, revealing how over 40 gamma-TuRC subunits assemble into a 14-spoked helical structure.

In this master′s thesis project, we will use budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system to express all human gamma-TuRC subunits. First, we will assemble a chromosome derived from synthetic DNA fragments of the gamma-TuRC genes, in collaboration with the Zeiss Center of Synthetic Genomics at the ZMBH. Next, we will analyze the assembly of the gamma-TuRC using fluorescence microscopy, biochemical approaches, single-particle cryo-electron microscopy of purified gamma-TuRC, and cryo-electron tomography of yeast cells. In the second phase, we will tether the gamma-TuRC to the yeast spindle pole body for functional analysis. Additionally, we will engineer the gamma-TuRC and study the impact of these structural changes on the microtubule system.

This project is a collaboration between the laboratories of Drs. G. Pereira, S. Pfeffer, and E. Schiebel.

The position is available immediately, and the successful applicant will be supported by a Hiwi contract for six-eight months.

Interested?

Please send applications to Dr. Elmar Schiebel (schiebel.elmar@zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de) with a CV, a short letter of motivation, and the names of two referees.

Mailing address : Prof. Elmar Schiebel, ZMBH, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

Please understand that received applications cannot be returned. In case of same aptitude, priority employment for handicapped people.

For literature on this topic, please follow this link to our website :

www.zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de / schiebel / open.html

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