Jobs

The Institut für Auditorische Neurowissenschaften of the University Medical Center Göttingen is looking for a new position for the earliest start date

The position is embedded in the newly founded Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1690 “Disease Mechanisms and Functional Restoration of Sensory and Motor Systems”, and the successful candidate will contribute to the project “Dissecting the mechanisms of otoferlin-driven synaptic vesicle fusion at inner hair cell ribbon synapses”.

We’re looking for a motivated researcher to join a cutting-edge project exploring how otoferlin, a key protein in hearing, drives rapid and precise neurotransmitter release in inner hair cells. You’ll use advanced structural biology techniques—like cryo-EM and AI-driven modeling—to study otoferlin’s dynamic interactions with membranes, SNARE proteins, and other fusion machinery. Your work will involve reconstituting protein complexes, analyzing their structure and function, and testing new ideas about how otoferlin might directly trigger vesicle fusion. This is a unique opportunity to tackle a fundamental question in neuroscience with real implications for understanding deafness and developing future therapies.

Göttingen is world renowned for its research in neuroscience. It is a stimulating and highly collaborative scientific environment hosting numerous prestigious and internationally renowned neuroscience research institutions. This includes the University and its Medical Center, lifescience Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute and the German Primate Center. The InnerEarLab (https://www.innerearlab.uni-goettingen.de), which includes several research groups of the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience (https://www.auditory-neuroscience.uni-goettingen.de) and Dept. of Otolaryngology and outside University, is tightly integrated in the Campus, where it runs numerous stimulating collaborations such as within CRC 1690 (https://sfb1690.uni-goettingen.de) and the Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (https://mbexc.de). Most PhD students are enrolled in the competitive „Sensory and Motor Neuroscience“ program of the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB, http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/sh/56640.html), which offers attractive interdisciplinary training platform and networking for PhD students.

Your tasks

Express, purify and assemble multimeric protein complexes for structural studies (e.g., using the MultiBac and MultiMam systems)

Biochemically characterize protein complexes, prepare, and image cryo-EM samples

Establish cryo-EM image analysis pipelines for reconstituted complexes, and build, refine, and validate structural models

Establish otoferlin-based vesicle fusion assays (coupled lipid and context mixing)

Validate structural models using site-directed mutagenesis and functional assays

Present your progress in regular thesis advisory committee meetings, lab meetings, scientific meetings, and research conferences

Contribute to joint scientific publications

Participate in a doctoral qualification program well suited to the research focus of the CRC

Your qualifications

Master’s degree or equivalent in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, or a related discipline, ideally with previous research experience in structural biology or biochemistry (cryo-EM/cryo-ET, X-ray crystallography, or NMR) or in protein engineering and purification for functional studies.

Extensive experience working with sensitive multimeric protein complexes and/or large membrane proteins is highly desirable.

Familiarity with cryo-EM/cryo-ET or X-ray crystallography data processing, model building and refinement (using RELION, cryoSPARC, Warp, Phenix, Coot) is highly desirable.

Experience with relevant biochemical methodologies (bulk vesicle fusion assays, liposome or nanodisc reconstitution, FRET-based assays), AI-based image analysis, knowledge of sensory neuroscience, and computational skills (Linux, Python, R, bash) are advantageous.

The ability to work in an interdisciplinary, English-speaking team of researchers is required.

We offer

Attractive employee compensation and benefit package according to the standards of the German public sector

A research- and qualification program in line with the CRC´s scientific mission

Clinically relevant research with strong links to patient care

Working with a highly engaged and interdisciplinary team of scientists at the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, one of the world leading institutions in inner ear research

Highly collaborative research environment with excellent scientific networking possibilities

State-of-the-art research infrastructure

Structured and multi-layered supervision by a thesis advisory committee

A comprehensive career development support program

Our goal as University Medical Center Göttingen is professional equality for all genders. We strive to equalize the gender ratio in areas where there is underrepresentation. The University Medical Center Göttingen is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled people and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal suitability, applications from severely disabled persons will be given preferential consideration in accordance with the relevant regulations. We kindly ask you to indicate a disability/equal status in your letter of application in order to safeguard your interests.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Click here to apply via UMG's recruitment system.

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The Institut für Auditorische Neurowissenschaften of the University Medical Center Göttingen is looking for a new position for the earliest start date

The Göttingen Campus is hosting numerous prestigious and internationally renowned research institutions. This includes the University and its Medical Center, two life science Max Planck Institutes, the European Neuroscience Institute, and the German Primate Center. The Institute for Auditory Neuroscience & InnerEarLab is tightly integrated in the Campus with research groups hosted also at non-university institutions and runs numerous stimulating collaborations on Campus such as within the Collaborative Research Center CRC1690 (Disease Mechanisms and Functional Restoration of Sensory and Motor Systems, https://sfb1690.uni-goettingen.de) and the newly founded Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies (EKFZ: https://ekfz.uni-goettingen.de).

Your tasks

In-depth structural and functional characterization of optimized Channelrhodopsin variants for basic research in neuroscience and future optogenetic therapies

Recombinant protein purification, Determination of protein stability (Prometheus NT. 48, NanoTemper Technologies), SDS PAGE, Blue Native PAGE

Cryo-EM (Titan Krios G4, Thermo Fisher Scientific)

High-throughput spinning disc confocal microscopy (CQ1, Yokogawa)

Data analysis

Your qualifications

Excellent and highly motivated applicant with a strong background in the structural and functional characterization of membrane transport proteins

Proficiency in structural biology and preferably knowledge in bioinformatics and/or patch clamp measurements and/or data-driven protein design

Experience with basic molecular biology techniques (PCR, cloning etc.)

Preferably knowledge in the characterization of microbial rhodopsins

Skills in data analysis with Python

Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills

The ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international team of researchers is required

We offer

Exciting work and collaboration in a multi-disciplinary team

A highly innovative project

The chance to contribute to work towards the development of future optogenetic therapies, in particular the optical cochlear implant

Our goal as University Medical Center Göttingen is professional equality for all genders. We strive to equalize the gender ratio in areas where there is underrepresentation. The University Medical Center Göttingen is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled people and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal suitability, applications from severely disabled persons will be given preferential consideration in accordance with the relevant regulations. We kindly ask you to indicate a disability/equal status in your letter of application in order to safeguard your interests.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Click here to apply via UMG's recruitment system.

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