ComeInCell Doctoral Network PhD Studentship: Biomolecular condensate interactions with the membrane in a dynamic membrane system

This PhD position is offered through the ComeInCell European MSCA Doctoral Network. More details about PhD projects offered through the ComeInCell Program can be found here: https://www.comeincell.org/projects

Hosted by:
Marten Exterkate
Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
Institute of Biochemistry
Membrane Biogenesis and Lipidomics Group

Project Summary

In the Exterkate lab we focus on the core building blocks of the membrane: lipids. Cellular membranes have no ‘fixed’ lipid composition, but instead are highly dynamic, through insertion of newly synthesized lipids, but also remodelling of already existing lipids. In this way, cellular membranes can adapt to, for example, environmental changes. In recent years, the lab has managed to enzymatically synthesize novel lipids from simple building blocks and insert them into a liposomal model system. As a consequence, liposomal membrane expansion was observed, which is a mimic of synthetic cellular growth. Although this is an important break-through, additional steps are now needed to create synthetic membranes that mimic more natural cellular conditions. In this project we will now focus on adding cellular crowding to our growing membrane system by introducing specific condensates.

First, we will assess the influence of, for example, membrane charge, expansion and packing, on the stability of the condensate-vesicle complex, while the membrane is expanding, which will advance our general understanding. Secondly, we plan to introduce membrane remodelling through environmental stimuli, thereby creating an advanced synthetic mimic of a native cellular membrane.

This project will include secondments at the University of Leuven (KU) in Belgium (Casadevall i Solvas group), the University of Nijmegen (RU) in the Netherlands (Spruijt group), and the Berlin branch of Nature Communications.

Further information on the research interests of the Exterkate Group can be found on this website: https://www.membiolip.hhu.de/

Selected References

• Exterkate, M.; Driessen, A. J. M. Continuous Expansion of a Synthetic Minimal Cellular Membrane. Emerg. Top. Life Sci. 2019, ETLS20190020. https://doi.org/10.1042/etls20190020.
• Exterkate, M.; Caforio, A.; Stuart, M. C. A.; Driessen, A. J. M. Growing Membranes in Vitro by Continuous Phospholipid Biosynthesis from Free Fatty Acids. ACS Synth. Biol. 2018, 7 (1), 153–165. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.7b00265.
• Bailoni, E.; Patiño-Ruiz, M. F.; Stan, A. R.; Schuurman-Wolters, G. K.; Exterkate, M.; Driessen, A. J. M.; Poolman, B. Synthetic Vesicles for Sustainable Energy Recycling and Delivery of Building  Blocks for Lipid Biosynthesis(†). ACS Synth. Biol. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.4c00073.

General Application Information
Funding information:
Funding agency: H2020-MSCA-ITN-2023 (Project Nr: 101168939)

Doctoral Candidate (DC) Allowances:
MSCA Doctoral Networks provide attractive salary terms and benefits, including a living allowance of around €3,400 (country correction coefficient applies), a mobility allowance of €600 and, a family allowance (€660 if applicable). Note that these are gross values and employer costs or other deductions depend on the recruiting host.

Mobility Conditions:
MSCA networks require that applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

The individual scientific projects are planned within one of the partner Host Institution and every doctoral candidate will spend a part of their doctoral studies in another partner laboratory (a maximum of 12 months of their 36 months PhDs).

Standard duties and responsibilities of the DC:
For the 36 months of employment contract the doctoral candidate (DC) will be required to work exclusively on the MSCA programme. In all cases, all duties and responsibilities will be clearly outlined in the DC personal Career Development Plan, as determined in the early stages of the project between the DC and their supervisory committee.

Starting Date:
All projects will commence preferably within the first half of 2025, depending on the host institution. Contact the corresponding PIs for more details.

Candidate Specification

Qualifications
Essential: Applicants should hold or expect to attain, as a minimum a MSc or 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Bioengineering or related area.

Knowledge and Experience
Essential: Research project carried out in at least one of the above disciplines and a demonstrated knowledge of at least one of the following: membrane biophysics, biomolecular condensates, membrane protein biochemistry.

Desirable: Practical experience with biomolecular condensates and giant unilamellar vesicles.

Skills and Competencies
Essential: Evidence of interest, aptitude and research experience in the above disciplines.

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English.