PhD Student Biology - Molecular Biology, Image Analysis (m/f/d)

The research group Molecular Mechanisms of Membrane Trafficking (Dr. Oleksiy Kovtun) at the City Campus invites applications for the position as

We are a small international team based at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, Germany. We aim to understand how molecular machines select transmembrane cargo proteins and drive the formation of transport carriers within the endosomal network. In this mission, we primarily rely on cryo-ET and subtomogram averaging to visualize molecular machines in reconstituted form or directly inside the cell. This approach requires biochemistry or cell biology for the sample preparation and scripting skills for the ET data processing.

For more information, please read PMID33762348, PMID30224749 and PMID32743075.

• M.Sc. degree in molecular-, cell-, structural biology, computer science, digital image analysis or related fields that included minimum six months long qualification research project
• Proficient writing and spoken English
• Motivation to drive your research project and grow towards career goals in academia or industry
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently or in a team
• Preference will be given to candidates with evident experience in the listed fields

• Training in cryo-electron microscopy and interfacing techniques
• Interdisciplinary research combining wet and dry lab experiments
• A wide range of opportunities to balance work and family life, including on-campus kindergarten, vacation care and parent-child offices
• Further training opportunities and free language courses
• Spacious cafeteria with a wide range of meals plus an espresso bar
• Health management: free fitness and yoga room, sports groups, course offerings for a \\\“moving break\\\“
• Initiatives for sustainability and a green environment with a new biotope

Position details

The positions should be filled as soon as possible; the exact start date is flexible. PhD students will be funded for three years with possibility of extension and have to enroll in a PhD program at the Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences
(GGNB – collaboration with the University of Göttingen). Payment and benefits are based on the wage agreement for public service personal (TVöD Bund) guidelines.
The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.
The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Application

To apply, please send a cover letter explaining how your training and career aspirations fit with this position, your CV, university diploma transcripts and contact details of at least two academic referees preferably by e-mail as a single PDF file until 24.08.2025.