Research Training Project ESR2:

The research project to be developed by ESR2 will be mainly focused on the establishment and optimization of biochemical assays for identifying small molecules that target HBV proteins and directly inhibit viral replication. Furthermore, the biochemical assays are to be transferred to a microfluidic format followed by the integration of both continuous flow chemistry and the microfluidic bioassay into one process of “compound synthesis and compound testing” for HBV inhibitors/effectors.

Main tasks

• Molecular biology (DNA cloning, gene expression, recombinant mutagenesis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR))
• Protein chemistry (SDS-PAGE; immunoblotting; protein chromatography like SEC and IMAC)
• Assay development and validation (liquid handling robotics, buffer optimization, assay quality assessment, different read-out systems e.g. fluorescence quenching, assay validation using reference inhibitors)
• Miniaturization of biochemical assays using different plate formats followed by transfer to the microfluidic chip based system in order to accelerate the lead identification process

Skills and Experience 

Essential

• Master degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, or similar
• Experience in general techniques of molecular biology and biochemistry (DNA-cloning, recombinant mutagenesis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA isolation and characterization, gene expression, protein purification and characterization, western blot analysis)
• Strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry
• Team orientated, problem solving, creative thinking
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Fluent English skills

Desirable

• Experience in recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli and protein purification
• Experience in the generation of recombinant protein variants (fusion proteins, affinity tag) insertion; insertion of amino acid substitutions for resistance analysis
• Experience in performing or developing setting-up biochemical assays
• Experience in HBV and/or virology
• Skills in organic chemistry
• General willingness to learn basic German language