The Dosztányi-group at the Department of Biochemisty, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, is looking for a highly motivated PhD student to join projects on intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions (IDPs and IDRs). The PhD position is fully funded and for years, starting February 1st, 2024, or soon thereafter. Information on the Dosztányi-group can be found at: https://dlab.elte.hu/

Our research: The main interest of the Dosztányi lab is to study how the sequence of intrinsically disordered proteins is related to their structural and functional properties and their involvement in various diseases. They developed various computational tools to aid research in this field, including prediction tools (e.g. IUPred and ANCHOR) and databases (e.g. DIBS, PhaSePro). Their aim is to characterize the distinct molecular and evolutionary properties of IDP mediated interactions and to understand how context contributes to these interactions in normal and disease settings.

Project description: We are looking for a driven and ambitious person, with an ability to work independently and in collaboration with other groups. The candidate should have a strong interest in pursuing a PhD degree in the field of protein science with a focus on IDPS and IDRs. The position is one of eleven PhD positions in the Horizon Europe-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network IDPro, Intrinsically disordered proteins in health and disease: mechanisms, molecular context and opportunities for drug discovery.

IDPro is an exceptional network of nine beneficiaries (eight academic and one industrial) and five partner organizations (four industrial and three academic) from seven different countries, with excellent track records in protein research and supervision. Together, we will train eleven doctoral candidates, with distinct competencies of relevance for the field of intrinsically disordered proteins, to secure future scientific breakthroughs in a rapidly developing field. We will investigate how disordered proteins interact, how interaction is affected by disease-related mutations, and assess how disordered proteins cause aberrant cellular signaling in relevant human disease models. Furthermore, we will design ligands that can be further developed into molecular probes, which could represent lead structures for the development of drugs. The goal of IDPro is to strengthen an emerging field in biology and medicine with implications for both academia and industry in the European union.

The specific project in the Dosztányi-group will address fundamental questions regarding the interactions of disordered proteins with a special focus on the role of context. The work involves training and research in protein bioinformatics, including biomolecular simulation, data analysis and machine learning as well as exploring specific systems with biomedical relevance.

Profile

Qualifications: To be eligible for this 3 year PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Hungarian master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. in biochemistry, chemistry, structural biology or similar, providing basic theoretical and practical knowledge in protein science. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Furthermore, the required degree must have been awarded by 30th of November 2023.

The applicant must be fluent in written and spoken English. The candidate is expected to take initiative driving the project, but also to collaborate with the other members of the doctoral network. Emphasis will be given on personal qualities, including analytical capacity, accuracy, flexibility and collaborative skills.

Please note: This MSCA Doctoral Network grant aims to promote mobility within the EU. Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Hungary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment.

Additional merits or desired skills: The ideal candidate has experience in bioinformatics, programming and/or machine learning. Furthermore, experience in intrinsically disordered proteins are also meritorious.

The selection is based on the following criteria: Completion of the above qualifications, grades in relevant courses, suitability of the courses to the research program, previous experience in working and/or performing research in the wider area that relates to the project described above. An integrated assessment of the applicant is generated to employ the best possible candidate that can succeed in the doctoral studies and contribute to a positive development of the department and the research program.

Place of employment

The employment is at Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary

Questions

For further information please contact Dr Zsuzsanna Dosztányi (zsuzsanna.dosztanyi@ttk.elte.hu)

Application procedure

Your online application must be submitted in English at the link provided below no later than December 10, 2023. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. A certified/signed copy of Master certificate. If the Master is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor reporting when the master will be completed.

4. List of publications with description of the personal contributions to each work, and if no publications exist, a pdf copy of the Masters’ thesis.

5. Reference Letters (at least 1, maximum 3)