News announcement

Introduction: 

The Peng Wu Group at the Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology is interested in the development of novel small molecule-based chemical modulators to manipulate the pervasive protein-RNA interactions, which impact almost all cellular events. Deregulations of the complex protein-RNA network are associated with various human diseases, while very limited modulation approaches are available. We aim to develop a series of platform strategies to tackle the challenging protein-RNA interactions in cooperation with the industrial partners of AstraZeneca, Merck KGaA and Pfizer. For example, our research aims to use charged molecular machineries to disrupt the potent interactions between RNAs and RNA-binding proteins, to apply a molecular recruiter to achieve targeted degradation of RNAs, and to assemble a covalently-modified dual function molecule to target RNA-binding proteins for induced activation or deactivation. We investigate these approaches to discover chemical probes that unfold the biological mechanisms of protein-RNA regulatory networks and provide drug leads for small molecule-based therapeutics with new mechanisms of action. Group Website: https://www.cgc.mpg.de/wu and Institute Website: https://www.mpi-dortmund.mpg.de/forschungsgruppen. 

We are now seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our young and creative team in a collaborative environment for the following goals:

 - Establish both in vitro and cellular screening assays to identify potential small-molecule modulators targeting RNA-binding/RNA-cleaving/RNA-modifying proteins.

- Perform validation assays (especially cellular assays) for in-house identified screening hits and synthesized optimized derivatives and analogues.

- Probe the biological function of the involved RNA binding proteins using the validated small-molecule modulators.

Candidate qualifications include:

- The applicant needs to be a motivated person with an PhD degree in cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry or a related subject (within 4 years since PhD graduation).

- Beneficial skills to have: cell/tissue culture, gene knock down/in/out cell line generation, fluorescence cell line, light/fluorescence microscopy, siRNA interference, genome editing system, e.g. CRISPR/Cas9, protein expression/purification/modification, RNA operation, sequencing, PCR, molecular cloning.

- The applicant is expected to lead the project independently, and work collaboratively and interact positively with other members of the group.

- Applicants should have a publication record with previous research achievement as first author.

- German language proficiency is not required. All research work and communications will be performed in English. English certificate is not required but English proficiency will be evaluated during an online interview.

Application Process:

Please send the following application documents to peng.wu@mpi-dortmund.mpg.de

- CV including at least two names of potential referees with contact information

- A complete list of publications (or combined with the CV)

- A short letter of motivation (or include your motivation in your email writing)

Applications will be reviewed periodically upon receipt of the above application documents.

The successful candidate can have a flexible starting date in fall 2021 or winter 2021/2022.