Description of position DC06
Title of the project
NMR-based binding screening and structural studies
Description of the project
Within the Chemical Glycobiology Group of CIC bioGUNE and in the framework of the ENSCC Doctoral Network, DC6 will be in charge of the project “NMR-based binding screening and structural studies”, focused on high-resolution molecular recognition studies (host-guest chemistry) of biologically relevant carbohydrates (glycans) by different chemical entities (foldamers, synthetic lectins, peptide-based receptors, macrocycles etc.…) designed and chemically synthesized by other ENSCC members for such purpose. Diverse state-of-the-art Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methodologies and strategies will be employed with the aims of screening, quantifying binding affinities, and characterizing the 3D structure and recognition features of the created macromolecular entities. Other complementary techniques, such as X-ray crystallography, calorimetry, and computational modelling will be employed. The project will be developed in close collaboration with the other members of the consortium, aimed at establishing feed-back interactions that will guide the further design and development of carbohydrate binding entities towards specific targets. The project foresees two secondments, one in industry (spin-off company in Bilbao, Spain) and another in academia (Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands) for DC6 to broaden her/his technical skills and encounter different working environments. The Chemical Glycobiology lab in CIC bioGUNE is a world leader on the use of NMR to study molecular recognition phenomena and hosts one of the most advanced NMR facilities in Spain (up to 1 GHz). The group is highly international, as well as interdisciplinary, gathering chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology expertise.
Research Field
Main area: Chemistry
Specific area: host-guest chemistry, molecular recognition, carbohydrates, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Work location
Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences – CIC bioGUNE (https://www.cicbiogune.es/)
Bizkaia Science and Technology Park building 801 A, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain.
Chemical glycobiology group: https://www.cicbiogune.es/people/aarda ; https://www.cicbiogune.es/people/jjbarbero
Supervisor
dr. Ana Arda (aarda@cicbiogune.es)
Required educational level
BSc in Chemistry and MSc degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry or in a related scientific field.
Skills or qualitfication required
Experience with NMR (data interpretation) will be positively considered, although not strictly necessary.
Required English level
Ability to communicate and to achieve comprehensive reading in English is required.
Tentative starting date of the contract
01/09/2024
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility criteria available here.