PhD Student (w/m/d) for the project “Structural characterisation of α-Synuclein-lipid complexes”

Organisation/University

Max Planck Society/University of Göttingen

Research Field

Biochemistry – Biophysics                                                 

Researcher Profile

First stage researcher (R1)

Application Deadline

17/05/2026 23:00 Europe/Brussels

Location

Göttingen - Germany (29 months)

Copenhagen - Denmark (6 months)

Ettlingen – Germany (1 months)

Type of contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours per week

39

Offer Starting Date

01/09/2026

EU Research Framework Programme

HORIZON-MCSA-2024-DN

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101227450

LipAgg Doctoral Network project

The LipAgg project (https://lipagg.eu/) seeks to unravel the structural complexities of amyloid protein-lipid aggregates and investigate their role in pathological aggregation, cellular toxicity, and intercellular spread. Focusing on key human amyloid proteins —amylin (IAPP), amyloid beta (Aβ), and α-synuclein (αS)—linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD), respectively, the project builds on recent discoveries made by the consortium. These findings highlight the critical role of free lipids in membrane damage through the formation of stable lipid-amyloidogenic protein complexes, leading to the lipid-chaperone hypothesis.

LipAgg Doctoral Network program

The selected PhD candidate will participate in the EU-funded HORIZON-MSCA-DN-2024-01 project LipAgg. The LipAgg network brings together partners from 6 European countries and comprises 11 academic or research institutions and 12 industrial partners. The consortium is committed to delivering an outstanding training programme for 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) aimed at elucidating the role of lipids in the toxicity and propagation of protein aggregation.

Supervisors

Prof. Dr. Christian Griesinger – cigr@mpinat.mpg.de

Prof. Dr. Céline Galvagnion-Büll - celine.galvagnion@sund.ku.dk

Involved Company

Bruker - https://www.bruker.com

Title

Structural characterisation of α-Synuclein-lipid complexes

Objectives

This project aims at establishing a reproducible protocol to generate α-Synuclein-lipid complexes made from recombinant α-Synuclein and near physiological vesicle preparations, the characterisation of their stability using FIDA/Prometheus and their structure at the near atomic resolution using solid state NMR.

The Position

The selected PhD candidate will participate in the EU-funded HORIZON-MSCA-DN-2024-01 project LipAgg. The LipAgg network brings together partners from five European countries and comprises nine academic institutions and twelve industrial partners. The consortium is committed to delivering an outstanding training programme for fifteen Doctoral Candidates (DCs) aimed at elucidating the role of lipids in the toxicity and propagation of protein aggregation.

The Doctoral candidate key tasks will be to manage and carry out the assigned research project, participate in the LipAgg training and network activities, take PhD courses, write scientific articles and the PhD thesis, participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings, undertake a research stay at an external research laboratory within the LipAgg network, and disseminate the obtained scientific results.

In particular, the DC enrolled in this position, will determine the structure of such α-Synuclein-lipid complexes by NMR spectroscopy in combination with photo-bleaching for the determination of the stoichiometry of the complexes and molecular dynamics. The protocols to prepare physiologically relevant particles will be established using cellular starting material. The influence of aggregation modulators on the structure of the α-Synuclein-lipid complexes will be part of the project. The Doctoral Candidate will be enrolled at the university of Göttingen in the Gauss program and work at the facilities of the Max Planck institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Christian Griesinger for the structure determination aspects of the work (29 months). The project includes a 6 months secondment at the University of Copenhagen where preparation of near physiological α-Synuclein-lipid complexes will be optimized under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Celine Galvagnion, as well as a 1-month secondment at Bruker, to work with and obtain information about the latest developments at Bruker (Ettlingen, Germany).

The expected start date is 1 September 2026.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate for this position is a highly motivated and talented researcher holding a Master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) in chemistry, physics, biochemistry or biophysics. A solid background or keen interest in structure elucidation by NMR and preparation of biologically relevant samples is expected. The ideal candidate should be enthusiastic about tackling new scientific challenges and demonstrate strong motivation, persistence, and a results-oriented mindset. The candidate should be able to work effectively both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential. Strong organisational and planning abilities are also required.

Eligibility rules

This position is subject to the mobility and eligibility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. In particular, the candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than twelve months during the three years immediately prior to the recruitment date, unless as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention. At the date of recruitment, the candidate must be a Doctoral Candidate, i.e. in the first five years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research career and must not have been awarded a doctoral degree.

Funding

The successful candidates will receive a gross salary of 4.768,12€ plus 660€ family allowance if eligible per month in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Doctoral Researchers. The net salary depends on local tax regulations. The salary includes a living allowance (4.058,12€), a mobility allowance (710€), and a family allowance (660€ if applicable). The PhD funding is for 36 months. 

Required documents

CV - including methodological skills

Motivation letter

Copy of Master’s degree (or proof of expected completion)

Master thesis (if available)

All academic transcripts

Contact information for at least two references

Contact information

To get more details please write to cigr@mpinat.mpg.de and celine.galvagnion@sund.ku.dk

Recent representative publications of Prof. Dr. Christian Griesinger and Prof. Dr. Céline Galvagnion:

• Insights into the molecular mechanism of amyloid filament formation: segmental folding of α-synuclein on lipid membranes/Molecular mechanism of αS filament folding on membranes, L. Antonschmidt, R. Dervişoğlu, V. Sant, K. A. Tekwani Movellan, I. Mey, D. Riedel, C. Steinem, S. Becker, L. B. Andreas, C. Griesinger Sci. Adv. 7(20) eabg2174
  DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg2174 (2021)
• Lipid-induced polymorphism of α-synuclein fibrils, B. Frieg, L. Antonschmidt, C. Dienemann, J.A. Geraets, D. Matthes, B. de Groot, S. Becker, L.B. Andreas, C. Griesinger, G.F. Schröder. Nat. 13, 6810 (2022) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34552-7
• The clinical drug candidate anle138b binds in a cavity of lipidic α-synuclein fibrils, L. Antonschmidt, R. Dervişoğlu, D. Matthes, C. Dienemann, A. Leonov, V. Sant, S. Ryazanov, S. Becker, A. Giese, Gunnar Schröder, B. de Groot, C. Griesinger, L. B. Andreas. Nat. Comm. (2022) 13:5385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32797-w
• Structure of a lipidic α-Synuclein misfolded aggregation intermediate. V. Sant, D. Matthes, H. Mazal, L. Antonschmidt, F. Wieser, K. T. Movellan, K. Xue, E. Nimerovsky, M. Nathan, S. Becker, V. Sandoghdar, B. deGroot, Christian Griesinger, L.B. Andreas: Nat. Comm. 16, 760 (2025)
• S. Buss, R. Sing Saw, L. Kuebler, F. Schmidt, S. Ryazanov, A. Leonov, D. Bleher, F. Bonanno, A.-K. Grotegerd, V.C. Ruf, K.E. Henry, C.M. Sandiego, B.J. Pichler, A. Maurer, C. Griesinger, A. Giese, K. Herfert. [11C]MODAG‑005 – a novel PET tracer targeting alpha-synuclein aggregates in the brain. Sci. Transl. Med. in press (2026) https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2189800/v2
• Galvagnion C, Marlet FR, Cerri S, Schapira AHV, Blandini F, Di Monte DA. Sphingolipid changes in Parkinson L444P GBA mutation fibroblasts promote α-synuclein aggregation. Brain. 2022 Apr 29;145(3):1038-1051. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab371
• Galvagnion C, Barclay A, Makasewicz K, Marlet FR, Moulin M, Devos JM, Linse S, Martel A, Porcar L, Sparr E, Pedersen MC, Roosen-Runge F, Arleth L, Buell AK. Structural characterisation of α-synuclein-membrane interactions and the resulting aggregation using small angle scattering. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2024 Apr 3;26(14):10998-11013. doi : https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CP05928F
• Stevenson A, Staats R, Dear AJ, Voderholzer D, Dreier JE, Meisl G, Guido R, Knowles TPJ, Galvagnion C, Buell AK, Vendruscolo M, Michaels TCT. Global kinetic model of lipid-induced α-synuclein aggregation and its inhibition by small molecules. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul;122(26):e2422427122. doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2422427122
• Dreier JE, Stevenson A, Carles E, Schott K, Michaels TCT, Galvagnion C. Ambroxol displaces α-synuclein from the membrane and inhibits the formation of early protein-lipid coaggregates. Chem Sci. 2025 Oct 31;17(1):354-363. doi: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SC06116D

We are committed to being a cosmopolitan institute that offers a diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities. We also aim to increase the number of employees with disabilities. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Application

Please submit your application until 17th May 2026 preferably via e-mail and as a single PDF file to:

ausschreibung18-26@mpinat.mpg.de

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences
Department of NMR-based Structural Biology
Herrn Prof. Dr. Christian Griesinger
Am Faßberg 11
37077 Göttingen