Assoc. Prof. Veikko Linko
Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
The doctoral candidate will be trained in DNA:RNA origami and liposome technologies and apply them in programmable hybrid liposome assemblies / vesicular architectures that can be further adjusted for biomedical and bioengineering applications, including biocatalytic control, disease-specific drug delivery, or tissue-specific gene transfer. The expected results include the formation of DNA origami-modulated liposomal building blocks and the channelling of cargo materials between liposomal containers or between liposomes and cells using molecular gating systems. For learning more about enzymes / biocatalytic control / and making inorganic DNA-templated materials, there will be an excellent opportunity to visit TU Dortmund, Germany. On top of that, for learning modelling of molecule channeling/transport, there will also be an agreed collaboration with the International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste, Italy.
Requirements: M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) with a major in Chemistry/Physics/Biochemistry/Cell biology or in a similar field (experimental research). Preliminary knowledge on any of the following fields/techniques is considered an advantage: molecular nanoscience, DNA nanotechnology, lipid formulations, materials science, biomolecules, cell cultures/studies, and different microscopy techniques.
Special note: This specialization belongs to the doctoral program in Engineering and Technology (Molecular Biotechnology).
Salary: Gross salary € 3,717.27 + € 710.00 mobility allowance (+ €495.00 family allowance, if applicable).
The salary (36 months) is directly based on Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network budgeting (including a country-specific living allowance and a fixed mobility allowance for a doctoral candidate, as well as a possible family allowance).