MSCA PhD Fellow in Cross-Disciplinary Glycoscience Research: Synthetic dendritic cell glycocalyx – an approach to bridge the gap between molecular and cellular levels
Job Vacancy
Research Field: Biological sciences
Sub Research:
Job Summary
Are you keen to progress glycoscience research across disciplines? Do you have research experience and a keen interest in developing physics and chemistry tools to reveal complex protein/glycan interactions? Do you want to further your career and attain a PhD in Baranova Lab at CIC biomaGUNE? Applications are invited for a 36-month position as a PhD Fellow to work in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network GLYCOCALYX
Job Description & Benefits
Description:
Virtually all mammalian cells are covered with a dense and complex coat of sugar chains (glycans) known as the glycocalyx, which is essential for multicellular life. Glycocalyces accomplish critical functions in inter-cellular communication, controlling tissue development, homeostasis and repair, inflammatory and immune responses, neuronal connectivity, and symbiosis with bacteria. However, when dysregulated, they can promote immune diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer. Glycocalyces also act as the first line of defence against pathogens, but some pathogens have evolved to hijack the glycocalyx to promote infection.
Despite their importance, mammalian glycocalyces remain the ‘dark matter’ of biology, understudied owing to the historical lack of preparative and analytical tools to probe the local molecular composition and transient interactions of molecules within glycocalyces, and missing physics rules to interpret experimental observations.
The GLYCOCALYX Network will train 15 PhD Fellows in chemistry, physics and biology methods and concepts required to resolve the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces. The project will establish a new level of understanding of how glycocalyces perform their many selective barrier functions. The PhD Fellows will receive cutting-edge scientific training, alongside industry-relevant transferable skills, to equip them for careers in the medical technology sector and its underpinning research and innovations.
Even though the glycocalyx coat can be found on nearly every living cell across kingdoms of life, the relationship between its architecture, dynamic re-organization and cell function remains largely unexplored. Dendritic cells (DCs) are best known for their role as professional antigen-presenting cells in T-cell antigen recognition. During the search for antigen, T-cells first tiptoe the surface of DCs with their microvilli extensions. To reach the plasma membrane, microvilli have to penetrate the glycocalyx coat. In this project, in a tight collaboration with G.Schutz group, MSCA PhD Fellow at CIC biomaGUNE will reconstitute components of the DCs glycocalyx on a fluid lipid membrane and investigate their effect on the T-cell interaction with surface, microvilli dynamics and signaling activation.
Virtually all mammalian cells are covered with a dense and complex coat of sugar chains (glycans) known as the glycocalyx, which is essential for multicellular life. Glycocalyces accomplish critical functions in inter-cellular communication, controlling tissue development, homeostasis and repair, inflammatory and immune responses, neuronal connectivity, and symbiosis with bacteria. However, when dysregulated, they can promote immune diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer. Glycocalyces also act as the first line of defence against pathogens, but some pathogens have evolved to hijack the glycocalyx to promote infection.
Despite their importance, mammalian glycocalyces remain the ‘dark matter’ of biology, understudied owing to the historical lack of preparative and analytical tools to probe the local molecular composition and transient interactions of molecules within glycocalyces, and missing physics rules to interpret experimental observations.
The GLYCOCALYX Network will train 15 PhD Fellows in chemistry, physics and biology methods and concepts required to resolve the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces. The project will establish a new level of understanding of how glycocalyces perform their many selective barrier functions. The PhD Fellows will receive cutting-edge scientific training, alongside industry-relevant transferable skills, to equip them for careers in the medical technology sector and its underpinning research and innovations.
Even though the glycocalyx coat can be found on nearly every living cell across kingdoms of life, the relationship between its architecture, dynamic re-organization and cell function remains largely unexplored. Dendritic cells (DCs) are best known for their role as professional antigen-presenting cells in T-cell antigen recognition. During the search for antigen, T-cells first tiptoe the surface of DCs with their microvilli extensions. To reach the plasma membrane, microvilli have to penetrate the glycocalyx coat. In this project, in a tight collaboration with G.Schutz group, MSCA PhD Fellow at CIC biomaGUNE will reconstitute components of the DCs glycocalyx on a fluid lipid membrane and investigate their effect on the T-cell interaction with surface, microvilli dynamics and signaling activation.
Benefits:
Additional details:
https://www.cicbiomagune.es/job-offer-detail?id=43257
https://www.cicbiomagune.es/job-offer-detail?id=43257
Job Details
Program:
HE
SESAM Number:
Glycocalyx - 101227305
Type of Contract:
Temporary
Profile:
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Status:
Full-time
Hours/Week:
40
Company:
CIC biomaGUNE
Location:
Donostia - San Sebastián
SPAIN
Organization Contact
Name:
CIC biomaGUNE
Type:
Other
Dept/Lab:
Research in Biomaterials
Address:
Paseo Miramón 194, Parque Tecnológico de San Sebastián E-20014 Donostia - San Sebastian SPAIN
Email:
Website:
Phone/Fax:
Ph: +34 943 00 53 00
