Jobs
PhD Students
Interested students please send informal inquiries and applications directly to
Stefan Diez and consider applying in parallel via our Graduate School DIGS-BB.
Bachelor / Master Students
We currently welcome applications from highly-motivated students interested in performing a Bachelor / Master Thesis on the following topics
(sorted by our Research Areas):
Collective Effects in Motor Systems
1) Long-range allosteric effects of molecular motors on microtubules: Microtubules (MTs) inside cells act as rail networks for active intracellular transport, whereby many different molecular motors are simultaneously transporting cargo to different parts of the cell. However, it’s currently unclear if this continuous traffic also effects the MT lattice and thereby changes the binding properties of other motors. In this project, we would like to study the biophysical motor parameters such as landing rates, velocities etc. as function of motor concentration for different molecular motors.
Methods: Single-molecule imaging using TIRF microscopy and extensive data analysis using MATLAB.
2) The role of MAPs on the motility of multiple-motor driven vesicular cargo: In eukaryotic cells vesicular cargo such as synaptic vesicles, lysosomes etc. are actively transported by multiple motors on microtubule (MT) tracks. However, the surface of these MTs is covered with many different microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). How these different MAPs regulate the vesicular transport is not well understood. In this project, we would like to investigate how different MAPs modulate the transport properties of various kinds of motor proteins.
Methods: Single molecule imaging using TIRF microscope and extensive data analysis using MATLAB.
3) Biomolecular reconstitution of mechanical oscillations: Oscillations are key to many dynamic cellular processes and can emerge as the collective behavior of an ensemble of interacting proteins in the cell. Examples include mitotic nuclear oscillations and the periodic beating of cilia. In this project, we aim to use a minimal set of proteins (e.g. molecular motors, filaments and crosslinkers) to reconstitute oscillatory behaviors in vitro. We aim to understand how frequency and the stability of the oscillations is determined by the mechanical properties of the system comomponents.
Methods: Fluorescence microscopy and image analysis.
4) In-vitro reconstitution of intra-flagellar transport (IFT): IFT trains are large macromolecular assemblies of proteins, which are key to the assembly and maintenance of eukaryotic cilia and flagella. Driven by molecular motors on cilliary microtubules, IFT trains show extremely uniform velocities in vivo with yet unknown origin. In this project, we will reconstitute IFT motion in-vitro to study the influence of various physico-chemical factors (such as doublet geometry, microtubule post-translational modifications and viscosity) on IFT motion, using a novel manipulation technique developed in our lab.
Methods: Advanced techniques in optical microscopy, in-vitro biochemistry, micro-manipulation, image analysis and data quantification.
Single Cell Motility
1) Axonemal motility and dynein force generation: The axoneme is the internal mechanical core of cilia, where dynein motors slide microtubules to generate bending waves at up to 100 Hz. In this project, we aim to elucidate how beating is generated by investigating the motility of isolated axonemes from genetically modified cells and by reconstituting minimal funcional units of purified axonemal microtubules, dynein motors and flagella associated proteins (FAPs).
Methods: High-speed and fluorescence microscopy, advanced image analysis, theoretical analysis, protein biochemistry and synthetic biology.
2) Methodological developments to study single cell motility: Single cells, like algae, populate complex habitats using sophisticated modes of motility in response to abiotic factors like temperature and light. In this project, we aim to study specific motility modes by engineering surfaces, controlling abiotic factors (like temperature and light) using Arduino microcomputers and programming software to realize long-time tracing of moving cells.
Methods: High-speed optical microscopy, microfluidics, micromanipulation, Arduino programming and image analysis.
3) Force generation in gliding diatoms: Diatoms are unicellular algae characterized by the presence of a glass (silica) cell wall. Diatoms use glue to adhere and glide across almost any surface. Gliding involves actin and myosin molecules. In this project, we aim to identify which role the actin stucture and specific myosins play in generating motion.
Read more about specific projects here.
Methods: Multi-color TIRF and confocal microscopy and image analysis.
Interested students please send (i) motivation statement, (ii) curriculum vitae, and (iii) transcript of your grades by email to Stefan Diez.