Biophysical and NMR Investigations of Antimicrobial Peptides.

The laboratory Membrane Biophysics and NMR at the University of Strasbourg has an opening for a PhD position starting 2024/2025 with the goal to investigate the lipid-driven peptide interactions within membranes. The increasing spread of multiresistant pathogens inside and outside hospitals becomes a dangerous threat to human health. Immediate action is needed to overcome this problem and this project aims to better understand their mechanisms of action and how combination therapies should be designed to increase activity and specificity. Antimicrobial peptides are capable of self-assembling into various supramolecular arrangements along the membrane surface and these interactions are strongly dependent on the membrane lipid composition pointing to an important role in biological processes. Related fundamental properties are also important in the formation of lipoprotein nanoparticles which are key in cardiovascular diseases. The project aims at understanding the fundamental principles of lipid-driven interactions thus that new compounds of medical interest can be developed. 

The position is funded by a three-year grant from the Fondation Jean-Marie Lehn and the Region Grand-Est. The University of Strasbourg is one of the top univeristies in chemistry and life sciences with four Nobel Laureates in the immediate vicinity of the laboratory. Strasbourg is a very nice city on the French side of the Rhine river, at the border to Germany, with easy access to nearby mountains (Vosges, Black Forrest, Alps. 

The project is suitable for chemists, physicists, physical chemists or biochemists. Candidates should be highly motivated to learn and apply a selection of biophysical techniques such as optical spectroscopies, NMR and/or the chemical or bio chemical production of peptides. S/he should be interested in working in a highly interdisciplinary and international environment.