Dear colleagues,
the NMR / DNP group of the University of Vienna, Austria (Kurzbach-group.univie.ac.at) is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop novel (hyperpolarization) tools based on NMR spectroscopy for the characterization of biomineralization processes. The 3-year project starts in November 2023 and is fully funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
A close collaboration with our partners at the Sorbonne Université (Paris, France) is foreseen.
Our lab is working on combining dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DDNP) [1], a technique to improve signal intensities in NMR spectra, with time-resolved detection of NMR spectra on milliseconds to minutes time scales. Our lab is equipped with 8 state-of-the-art NMR devices and integrated in a fully equipped biochemistry facility.
The goal of the project is to employ liquid-state NMR to characterize the onset of calcium phosphate (CaP) crystallization. This process proceeds via so-called non-classical prenucleation clusters (PNC) that form in solution prior to association into larger CaP intermediate.
Multidimensional liquid-state (LS) NMR is however typically “static”, i.e., data are time-averaged and cannot reflect the dynamical character of out-of-equilibrium systems. Instead, the focus lies on equilibrium dynamics such as pico- to milliseconds structural fluctuations or exchange processes. However, this is not adequate to describe events that evolve in time, such as biomineralization processes.
Instead, high-resolution methods are required [2] that provide real-time access to these processes and PNCs. In this regard, we aim to implement a dual strategy to cover a wide range of mineralization processes, from very fast proceeding events (ms-s timescales) to slowly evolving solutions (min-h timescales). DDNP will be used to reduce the time needed to detect a PNC signal, since up to 10000-fold signal enhancements [3] can be obtained, enabling a dramatic decrease in acquisition times.
If you are interested in this project please send a CV, a letter of motivation and two references to dennis.kurzbach@univie.ac.at.
The University of Vienna offers:
- a dynamic research location with well-established research funding provisions attractive working conditions in a city with a high quality of life comprehensive advice and support in relation to finding an accommodation, change of schools and dual career
- a wide range of support services offered by central service institutions
- a competitive salary (see https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/research-funding/personnel-costs)
Websites:
https://kurzbach-group.univie.ac.at/
https://biologischechemie.univie.ac.at/
https://nmr.univie.ac.at/
References:
- Johannes Strobl, Fanny Kozak, Meder Kamalov, Daniela Reichinger, Dennis Kurzbach, Christian FW Becker: Understanding Self‐assembly of Silica Precipitating Peptides to Control Silica Particle Morphology. Adv. Mater., 2023, 16, 2207586.
- Ludovica M. Epasto, Kateryna Che, Fanny Kozak, Albina Selimovic, Pavel Kaderavek, Dennis Kurzbach: Towards Protein NMR at Physiological Concentrations by Hyperpolarized Water – Finding and mapping uncharted conformational spaces. Sci. Adv., 2022, 8, eabq5179.
- Mattia Negroni, Ertan Turhan, Thomas Kress, Morgan Ceillier, Sami Jannin, Dennis Kurzbach: Frémy’s Salt as a Low-Persistence Hyperpolarization Agent: Efficient Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Plus Rapid Radical Scavenging. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 45, 20680–20686.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dennis Kurzbach
University Vienna
Institute of Biological Chemistry / NMR Core Facility
Währinger Str.38
1090 Vienna
Austria
Mail: dennis.kurzbach@univie.ac.at
Tel.: +43-1-4277-70528
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