PhD position: NMR structure of AP‑L complex of hIAPP and its effect on fibrils and membranes (MSCA - DN - LipAgg)

23/04/2026 Financement de l'Union européenne

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences

Biophysics

Project Overview

The LipAgg project ( seeks to unravel the structural complexities of amyloid protein‑lipid aggregates and investigate their role in pathological aggregation, cellular toxicity, and intercellular spread. Focusing on key human amyloid proteins — amylin (IAPP), amyloid beta (Aβ), and α‑synuclein (αS)— linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD), respectively, the consortium builds on recent discoveries that highlight the critical role of free lipids in membrane damage through formation of stable lipid‑amyloidogenic protein complexes, supporting the lipid‑chaperone hypothesis.

Program Details

The selected PhD candidate will participate in the EU‑funded HORIZON‑MSCA‑DN‑2024‑01 project LipAgg. The LipAgg network brings together partners from six European countries, comprising eleven academic or research institutions and twelve industrial partners, and delivers a comprehensive training programme for fifteen Doctoral Candidates (DCs) focused on elucidating the role of lipids in the toxicity and propagation of protein aggregation. The candidate will be enrolled at the University of Göttingen in the Gauss program, work at the facilities of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences under Prof. Dr. Christian Griesinger (28 months), undertake a seven‑month secondment at the University of Bordeaux for functional investigations of membrane integrity under Prof. Dr. Lucie Khemtemourian, and a one‑month secondment at Bruker in Ettlingen, Germany.

Responsibilities

Manage and carry out the assigned research project.
Participate in LipAgg training and network activities, national and international congresses, and scientific meetings.
Write scientific articles and the PhD thesis.
Undertake a research stay at an external laboratory within the LipAgg network.
Disseminate obtained scientific results.
Prepare IAPP‑lipid complexes and characterize them by NMR; determine their structure at near‑atomic resolution.
Use photo‑bleaching techniques to assess complex stoichiometry and molecular dynamics.
Study IAPP fibril formation kinetics in the presence and absence of AP‑L.
Investigate membrane integrity and/or perturbations associated with IAPP‑lipid complex binding using fluorescence leakage assays, ^2H and ^31P‑NMR.

Qualifications

Holding a Master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) in chemistry, physics, biochemistry or biophysics.
Solid background or strong interest in NMR structure elucidation and preparation of biologically relevant samples.
High motivation, persistence, and a results‑oriented mindset.
Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Strong organisational and planning abilities.

Eligibility Rules

This position is subject to the mobility and eligibility rules of the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions. The candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Germany for more than twelve months during the three years immediately prior to the recruitment date, unless as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention. At the date of recruitment, the candidate must be a Doctoral Candidate (i.e., in the first five years of research career) and must not have been awarded a doctoral degree.

Funding

Monthly gross salary: 4 768.12 € plus 660 € family allowance (if eligible). The salary includes a living allowance of 4 058.12 € and a mobility allowance of 710 €. The PhD funding is for 36 months.

Start Date

Expected start date: 1 September 2026.

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Association Bernard Gregory