Postdoctoral Position in Markov-State Modeling of Synaptic Receptors (Glycine Receptors, MD Simulations) at Université de Strasbourg

A postdoctoral position is available in the field of Markov-state modeling of synaptic receptors, specifically focusing on glycine receptors (GlyR), at Université de Strasbourg, France. The opportunity is part of the ANR-funded GlyTrans project, a collaboration between the Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg and Institut Pasteur (Paris). The research builds on a strong partnership between the groups of Marco Cecchini (Strasbourg), Pierre-Jean Corringer, and Jean-Pierre Changeux (Institut Pasteur). The project centers on the molecular modeling of GlyR, which play a crucial role in neural communication and are targets for analgesics, psychoactive drugs, anesthetics, and neurotoxins. The research will use advanced molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and Markov-state modeling (MSM) to study the conformational states and kinetics of GlyR, leveraging tools such as Gromacs, PyEMMA, and Deeptime. The work will involve analyzing high-resolution structures, simulating activation and inhibition mechanisms, and understanding allosteric modulation of these receptors. The successful postdoc will join a strong modeling team with access to excellent computational resources and will have the opportunity to collaborate with experimentalists, including Franco Viscarra. The project is ideal for candidates with expertise in computational biophysics, molecular modeling, and protein dynamics, and offers a stimulating environment at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant field and experience with MD simulations and MSMs. The position is fully funded by the GlyTrans project, though specific salary details are not provided. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the supervisors or check the Université de Strasbourg website for application procedures.