Topic: intrinsically disordered proteins

Develop theory and computational methods for complex biomolecular systems in Helmut Grubmüller’s group. Topics include variational free-energy methods, solvation-shell thermodynamics, constant-pH simulations and Markovian thermodynamics, with applications to ribosomes, fatty-acid synthase, CRISPR systems and intrinsically disordered proteins. Doctoral appointments initially last three years and postdoctoral appointments two years, with extension possible; remuneration follows TVöD. Start dates are flexible and applications remain open until filled.

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), lack of a well-defined folded structure, have been recently shown to be critical to forming membrane-less organelles via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Due to the flexible conformations of IDPs, it could be challenging to investigate IDPs with solely experimental techniques. Computational models can therefore provide complementary views at several aspects, including the fundamental physics underlying LLPS and the sequence determinants contributing to LLPS. In this presentation, I will start with our coarse-grained computational framework tha