Jobs in Structural Biology and Related Fields

PhD /Postdoc in In Situ Structural Biology by Cryo-ET

Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany

Application deadline: 01 Jun 2025

The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association is an international biomedical research center dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms of health and disease with the goal to devise new diagnostics and medicines. The MDC is a member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest scientific organization, and offers an engaging research environment with cutting-edge research infrastructure. Currently, ~1250 employees and ~500 guest scientists work at the Berlin-Buch and Berlin-Mitte campuses. Our diverse workforce is a core strength that inspires creativity and innovation at the MDC. The MDC is committed to improving human health through transformative biomedical research. Our goal is to pioneer discoveries for preventing, treating, and ultimately curing disease.

The Kudryashev Group at the MDC specializes in understanding of structural and molecular mechanisms of membrane proteins and their complexes. Using the arsenal of cryo-EM and integrative structural biology approaches, the group investigates how membrane proteins function in their native environments: membranes or cells. Furthermore, we develop computational tools to streamline data processing to make it faster and at higher resolution. Recently, we started working on DNN approaches to further optimize the process of structural determination of macromolecules from cryo-ET data.

Project Description

This is a broad call for a PhD student / Postdoctoral Researcher interested in structural biology, cryo-EM, DNNs, membrane proteins, and drug discovery. A researcher with a technical background would develop or incorporate deep neural networks into the workflows for the structural analysis of macromolecules from cryo-ET data. A researcher with interest in the structure and function of membrane proteins will be offered several projects with highly medically important membrane proteins with an aim to understand their functions and potentially develop interacting partners. Furthermore, we have interests in understanding the molecular architecture of cells, which we approach by cryo-FIB milling, cryo-ET, and integrative structural biology. Researchers with experience or interest in structure-based protein design are also encouraged to apply.

Your profile

• Passion for data, structural biology research, transmembrane signaling and/or method development
• For a postdoc: PhD in structural biology, biochemistry, biophysics, computational sciences, or related. For a PhD student, a relevant master’s degree.
• For the PhD student, knowledge of cryo-EM / structural biology techniques will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of coding or scripting tools is an advantage.

Your Benefits

• Exciting science, outstanding scientific infrastructure, amazing colleagues
• State-of-the-art facilities with a TFS Titan Krios + K3, a TFS Aquilos2 for cryo-FIB milling, high-performance IT infrastructure, a large cluster with GPUs, spacious labs and offices.
• An international working environment in an interdisciplinary group, working language is English.
• Salary remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement for the federal public service (TVöD-Bund), including additional company pension schemes
• Opportunities to attend group retreats and international workshops, and conferences.

Furthermore:

• Living in the amazing city of Berlin
• Flexible working hours and childcare support
• Onboarding support by the MDC Welcome & Family Office, free German classes, career mentoring
• An idyllic green campus Buch, which is accessible by bicycle, public transport or car
• Additional health benefits such as flu vaccination, eye test, ergonomics advice at the workplace
• Subsidy for the job ticket as well as discounts in the campus canteen, free use of Nextbike from the Buch S-Bahn station to the campus and a lot of other perks

The initial contract for a postdoc will be for 2 years, for a PhD student – 3 years, in both cases with an opportunity for extensions.

Starting date: 2h2025 or later, flexible.

Please apply here: [Please click the Apply button for the link or address] 

Informal inquiries are welcome: Mikhail.Kudryashev@mdc-berlin.de