TUM School of Natural Sciences - Chair of Neurobiological Engineering

PostDoc (m/w/d) position on “Biological engineering of novel gene reporters for Electron Microscopy”

30.10.2024, Wissenschaftliches Personal

Synthetic Biology and Molecular Imaging project on generating “GFP for Electron Microscopy” via genetic- and protein-engineering of EM-visible nanostructures for neuroscience applications

Are you intrigued by synthetic biology and aspire to contribute to the elucidation of memory encoding mechanisms within brain circuits through molecular imaging at the highest attainable resolution?

You may be interested in our groundbreaking work on developing a unique set of gene reporters specifically designed for Electron Microscopy (EM). These "GFPs for Electron Microscopy" provide unprecedented insights into the intricate interplay between brain activity and neuronal connections.

Specifically, we will use encapsulins [references 1-4] as 'lead structures' for genetically encoded self-assembling nanostructures that can be visualized by high-throughput EM of serial brain sections.

In this way, we can directly overlay molecular information about, e.g., synaptic plasticity onto the brain wiring diagram ("connectome") at EM resolution in a loose analogy to how Google Maps displays traffic information on top of the road map.

This novel reporter technology will accelerate the systematic analysis of function-ultrastructure relationships in brains with implications for our understanding of neuropsychiatric diseases and inspiration for neuromorphic computing.

Your Ideal Qualifications:

• A recent Ph.D. degree in synthetic biology, biological engineering, biochemistry, biophysics, neurobiology, biomedical engineering, or a related field.

• In-depth knowledge of molecular biology, advanced cloning techniques, and mammalian cell culture methods.

• Experience working with in vivo model systems.

• A keen interest in molecular imaging, including Fluorescence and Electron Microscopy, and neurobiology.

• A strong desire to apply new technologies to in vivo applications.

• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team of bioengineers, biochemists, neuroscientists, and data scientists.

• Excellent English language and organizational skills.

TUM 

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) combines top-class facilities for cutting-edge research with unique learning opportunities for students. It is committed to finding solutions to the major challenges facing society as we move forward: Health & Nutrition • Energy & Natural Resources • Environment & Climate • Information & Communications • Mobility & Infrastructure. The university thinks and acts with an entrepreneurial spirit. Its aim: to create lasting value for society. All this combines to make it one of Europe's leading universities.

Applications from disabled persons with essentially the same qualifications will be given preference. TUM strives to raise the proportion of women in its workforce and explicitly encourages applications from qualified women.

The employment is limited to 3 years.

Please send your letter of motivation and your complete CV to ga49qal@mytum.de.

Please also note: https://portal.mytum.de/kompass/datenschutz/Bewerbung/.

References:

[1] Sigmund, F., Berezin, O., Beliakova, S. et al. Genetically encoded barcodes for correlative volume electron microscopy. Nat Biotechnol 41, 1734–1745 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-023-01713-y

[2] Sigmund, F., Pettinger, S., Kube, M., Schneider, F., Schifferer, M., Schneider, S., Efremova, M.V., Pujol-Martí, J., Aichler, M., Walch, A., Misgeld, T., Dietz, H., Westmeyer, G.G., 2019. Iron-Sequestering Nanocompartments as Multiplexed Electron Microscopy Gene Reporters. ACS Nano 13, 8114–8123. doi:10.1021/acsnano.9b03140

[3] Sigmund, F., Massner, C., Erdmann, P., Stelzl, A., Rolbieski, H., Desai, M., Bricault, S., Wörner, T.P., Snijder, J., Geerlof, A., Fuchs, H., Hrabe de Angelis, M., Heck, A.J.R., Jasanoff, A., Ntziachristos, V., Plitzko, J., Westmeyer, G.G., 2018. Bacterial encapsulins as orthogonal compartments for mammalian cell engineering. Nat Commun 9, 1990. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04227-3

[4] Farhadi, A., Sigmund, F., Westmeyer, G.G. et al. Genetically encodable materials for non-invasive biological imaging. Nat. Mater. 20, 585–592 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-020-00883-3

a recently established European Research Council (ERC)-funded project within our laboratory (westmeyerlab.org) situated at the Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (https://www.bioengineering.tum.de/) of the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

As part of your application, you provide personal data to the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Please view our privacy policy on collecting and processing personal data in the course of the application process pursuant to Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union (GDPR) at

https://portal.mytum.de/kompass/datenschutz/Bewerbung/. By submitting your application you confirm to have read and understood the data protection information provided by TUM.

Find out more about us at www.tum.de

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Gil Gregor Westmeyer: ga49qal@mytum.de