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About Us
This is a joint project between theorists (Prof. Madan Rao and Prof. Pierre Sens) and experimentalists (Prof. Patricia Bassereau and Dr. Shashi Thutupalli) at two institutes (National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India and the Institut Curie, Paris, France) as part of a joint postdoctoral fellowship program. The aim is to understand the organization and emergence of structure and function of the Golgi apparatus, a complex membrane bound organelle within cells.
The position
We are seeking highly motivated, outstanding candidates for 2 postdoctoral positions to investigate the biophysics of the Golgi apparatus in cells, both theoretically and experimentally.
We propose to use the principles of soft condensed matter and non-equilibrium physics to understand the organization and emergence of structure and function of the Golgi apparatus. We view this as a process of self-emergent structure and function but also as a complex information processing problem. The Golgi apparatus is comprised of a stack of lipid bilayer compartments (cisternae), each with a unique chemical identity and serves as a protein processing factory as proteins and other macromolecules progress in a stepwise manner through the stacks. The emergence of the form and function of such a biochemical factory from simple soft matter components such as lipids and proteins has remained a mystery for a long time. Resolving this mystery has fundamental bearing not only for understanding trafficking within cells but also for cellular self-organization in general. The sequential chemical processing within the Golgi apparatus can be viewed as driven nonequilibrium chemical reactions. We aim to build in vitro model lipid membrane systems incorporating non-equilibrium processes, such as membrane fusion, sorting and spontaneous scission using a combination of microfluidics and soft matter techniques. Using these basic ingredients, we will study the de novo emergence of structures resembling the Golgi. Of particular emphasis will be the quantitative control of the transport, fusion, fission and segregation of the structures commensurate with in vitro studies. These experiments and corresponding in vitro measurements will be reconciled with theory.
Your profile
An extensive background in soft matter physics or related subjects.
(i) For the experimentalists, we are looking for expertise in artificial membrane systems, microfluidics, microscopy, optical manipulation and related physical techniques. Persons with a theoretical background with a strong interest in building experiments are also encouraged to apply.
(ii) For theorists, background in soft condensed matter, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and membrane biophysics will be highly relevant.
Our offer
The total duration of the fellowship is for a maximum duration of 4 years. This fellowship is a jointly appointment Postdoctoral Fellow between the NCBS, India and the Institut Curie, France. The time of the fellowship is to be divided between the partnering institutions. Right from the start, the candidate will be encouraged and even expected to develop a great degree of independence — from drafting the initial details of the project within the broad framework outlined and also to propose interesting directions going forward.
Your application
Please send your application (CV, a list of publications and two reference letters) by email to shashi@ncbs.res.in, patricia.bassereau@curie.fr, pierre.sens@curie.fr, madan@ncbs.res.in.