Topic: ribosomes

The Loerch laboratory studies neuronal ribosomes and protein synthesis. The intern will organize structural datasets, build reproducible analysis software, compare structural features, and investigate ribosome states in cellular cryo-EM images using two-dimensional template matching. Machine learning may form part of the work. The appointment is up to 20 hours weekly for six months, with possible extension and pay based on experience. Send a CV and a brief account of computational experience and interests to loerch2@wisc.edu; software examples are welcome, and two or three reference letters sh

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.

The complex morphology of neurons, with synapses located hundreds of microns from the cell body, necessitates the localization of important cell biological machines, including ribosomes, within dendrites and axons. Local translation of mRNAs is important for the function and plasticity of synapses. Using advanced sequencing and imaging techniques we have updated our understanding of the local transcriptome and identified the local translatome- identifying over 800 transcripts for which local translation is the dominant source of protein. In addition, we have explored the unique mechanisms neur