There is an opening for a fully funded
PhD thesis for three years from September
2011 at the Ecole Normale Superieure
de Lyon (France), Laboratory of Molecular
and Cellular Biology. 

PhD adviser: Dr. Martin Spichty.
Application deadline: 31.07.2011.


The student will join a team of experimental
and theoretical scientists that are closely
collaborating to target one of the most devastating
diseases on our planet: cancer.

By combining experiments of molecular and
cellular biology with biomolecular computer
simulations and machine-learning techniques,
we are implementing a highly interdisciplinary
approach to discovery novel routes for the
development of anti-cancer therapeutics.

The recruited PhD student will actively contribute
to the development of this approach. She/He will
use the techniques of molecular modelling to simulate
biomolecules (such as carcinogenic proteins) and
their interactions on the molecular level, using
France's largest and most powerful computer clusters.
The successful candidate will develop new methods to
provide fundamental insights into the thermodynamics
of biomolecular processes, such as conformational
changes and protein-protein associations using
free-energy calculations. As part of the team the
student will be directly interacting with the
experimental biologists, and her/his results will
guide the biologists in the design of their experiments
and vice versa. The PhD fellow will gain in-depth
experience on the methodology of computational
biophysics, on the one side, and a unique knowledge
on the structure, dynamics and function of proteins,
on the other side.

The candidate has a Masters degree in Chemistry,
Biology, or Physics. She/he is a team player and
is interested in an interdisciplinary research
at the interface of biology/chemistry/biology.
The student has a strong background in physical
chemistry or biophysics. Experience in programming
or shell scripting (Python, C++, csh/bash), knowledge
of the basics of molecular modelling, or, ideally,
familiarity with a biomolecular simulation package
such as CHARMM, NAMD or AMBER is advantageous.
Knowing the LINUX/UNIX operating system, the 
principles of free-energy calculations or
machine-learning is considered a plus.

The fellowship is according to the standards of the
French's Ministry of Research and Education.

Candidates should send a CV and letter of motivation
in one PDF file via e-mail to:

Dr. Martin SPICHTY ([log in to unmask])

Senior Researcher, CR1 (CNRS)
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Differentiation and the Cell Cycle
Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
46, allée d’Italie
69364 Lyon cedex 07
France

Tel :   +33.4.72.72.85.87
Fax :   +33.4.72.72.80.80
[log in to unmask]
www.ens-lyon.fr/LBMC 
UMR 5239 CNRS/ENS Lyon/Université Lyon 1/HCL
IFR 128 "BioSciences Lyon-Gerland"

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