Cluster of Excellence in Simulation Technology
Universität Stuttgart with its 20,000 students and 7,000 employees is one of the leading European Research Universities with a main focus on engineering and natural sciences. Universität Stuttgart is committed to excellent basic and applied research and interdisciplinary academic education. The excellence initiative of the German state and federal governments has approved the funding of the Cluster of Excellence EXC 310 Simulation Technology (SimTech) at Universität Stuttgart (www.simtech.uni-stuttgart.de). In this context, the newly established Stuttgart Research Centre for Simulation Technology (SRC SimTech) is asking for applications for a
PhD student for the project Molecular Modelling of Enzymes at a Water-Substrate Interface
to pursue research in future-orientated research fields.
Lipases und PHA depolymerases are interesting enzymes for many biotechnological applications. While they are water soluble, they convert water-insoluble substrates by binding to the water-substrate interface. Our goal is to understand the molecular basis of the different substrate specificities of lipases and PHA depolymerases which convert triglycerides and polyesters, respectively. In this project, the molecular mechanism of binding will be studied by molecular dynamics simulations of large, realistic protein systems to understand the effect of the interface to structure and dynamics of the enzyme, and to design enzyme variants with improved biochemical properties in collaboration with our experimental project partners.
Candidates with a degree preferably in biology or chemistry and interested in an interdisciplinary and application oriented project at the interface between life science and engineering are invited to send their application to Prof. Dr. Jürgen Pleiss (Juergen.Pleissatitb.uni-stuttgart.de), Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
Postdoc and PhDs are expected to participate actively in the SimTech Teaching Programmes and Industry Transfer Concepts.
Applications with the usual documents (CV, degree certificates, references, publication list, letter of motivation) should be sent directly to the Professors/Junior Professors to arrive not later than April 30, 2009.
Universität Stuttgart wishes to increase the proportion of female academic staff and, for this reason, especially welcomes applications from women. Severely challenged persons will be given preference in case of equal qualifications.
For further positions and information please see: www.simtech.uni-stuttgart.de
