PhD position in cell biology / biophysics of intracellular trafficking

The successful candidate will work at ICFO under the supervision of Dr. Felix Campelo, as part of the Single Molecule Biophotonics (SMB) research group led by Prof. Maria Garcia-Parajo. The SMB group focuses on development of advanced optical techniques to the study of biological processes on living cells at the nanoscale. The PhD student will be involved in an interdisciplinary project, with research being conducted at the interface of biology and physics.

The goal of the research project is to bring understanding on how proteins are transported between the different membranes of the Golgi complex and the impact of Golgi membrane organization to its function. In particular, the student will investigate the mechanisms by which secretory cargoes are processed and
transported along the Golgi complex. To reach this goal, the student will use a unique multidisciplinary approach combining state-of-the-art molecular and cell biological tools with biophysical modeling. Moreover, the student will be exposed to advanced imaging techniques, including super-resolution nanoscopy
and single molecule approaches. The project will be carried out in collaboration with worldwide leading groups in cell biology and biophysics, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to benefit by a multidisciplinary and international environment.

Eligibility and Conditions

• Candidates must hold an internationally recognized master's degree (or evidence of its completion in the nearest future) preferably in cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, experimental physics or related areas.
• The candidate should have a proven track record of academic excellence. Positively valued will be experience in cell biology, light microscopy and computer programming (e.g. ImageJ, Matlab).
• No restrictions of citizenship apply to the ICFO pre-doctoral contracts.
• The fellowships are offered for periods of one year, renewable for a total of four years. The annual renewal of the ICFO-UPC fellowship is conditional on satisfactory performance in research and teaching activities, as well as on positive evaluation by the thesis director and the ICFO Board.

Application procedure

The formal application should be submitted by e-mail to: felix.campelo en icfo.es and maria.garcia-parajo en icfo.es. E-mail submissions must include the mailing label “SMB” and your last name printed before the label. Suitable candidates are requested to submit:

• A presentation letter with declaration of research interests.
• Curriculum Vitae, including a full address, a contact phone number and e-mail address and a copy of the passport.
• A scanned copy of your University academic transcripts in English or Spanish.
• A scanned copy of the degree, if available at the time of application.
• The contact e-mail of three potential referees.
• A proof of English command (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.) in the case that English is not the first language or the undergraduate degree was acquired in a country where English is not the official language.
• If available, a scanned copy of standardized GRE test results. Note that submission of GRE test results is optional, but they can be particularly helpful for evaluating candidates with degrees obtained outside the European Higher Education Area.

Please note that candidates should be willing to be contacted during the entire selection process.

Informal science and project-related enquiries may be addressed to Dr. Felix Campelo (felix.campelo@icfo.es).