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Postdoctoral Fellow in Time-Resolved and Room-Temperature Macromolecular Crystallography Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
The postdoctoral position is a paid employment opportunity at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The post is limited to two years, with the option of a one-year extension. The announcement does not specify salary, stipend, tuition coverage, or other financial amounts. PSI offers modern employment conditions, individual development opportunities, further education, and on-site facilities supporting work-life balance.
Deadline
Jan 10, 2027
Country
Switzerland
University
Paul Scherrer Institut
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About this position
The Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland, invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellow position in Time-Resolved and Room-Temperature Crystallography within the Macromolecular Crystallography group of the Center for Photon Science.
The project develops “Cryo2RT” approaches that combine cryogenic sample preparation, shipping, and beamline automation with room-temperature, multi-temperature, and time-resolved crystallography. The successful researcher will work at the PXI-VESPA endstation and other Swiss Light Source (SLS) macromolecular crystallography beamlines, collaborating with beamline scientists, detector specialists, software experts, and external users.
Research activities include implementing time-resolved experiments using substrate or ligand droplet mixing, picolitre injection, laser-induced temperature jumps, photocaged compounds, and JUNGFRAU detectors. The project applies these approaches to dynamic structural enzymology, reaction intermediates, and conformational changes; establishes serial synchrotron crystallography workflows on cryo-compatible fixed-target chips; and characterises X-ray-induced heating and radiation damage at room temperature.
Candidates should hold a PhD in structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, or a related field and have practical experience with macromolecular crystallography, including data collection, processing, structure determination, and refinement. Experience with serial or time-resolved crystallography at synchrotrons or XFELs is expected. Experience with protein production, microcrystallisation, reaction initiation, enzyme kinetics, Python, CrystFEL, XDS, or radiation-damage studies is advantageous.
The position is limited to two years, with a possible one-year extension. The starting date is by agreement. Applications must be submitted online by 10 January 2027 and should include a publication list and contact details for two referees. For questions, contact Dr Guillaume Gotthard or Dr Meitian Wang.
Funding details
The postdoctoral position is a paid employment opportunity at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The post is limited to two years, with the option of a one-year extension. The announcement does not specify salary, stipend, tuition coverage, or other financial amounts. PSI offers modern employment conditions, individual development opportunities, further education, and on-site facilities supporting work-life balance.
What's required
Applicants must hold a PhD in structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, or a related field. Hands-on experience in macromolecular crystallography is required, including X-ray data collection and processing, structure determination, and refinement. Experience with serial and/or time-resolved crystallography at synchrotrons or XFELs is expected, along with a strong interest in method and instrumentation development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and very good written and spoken English. Desirable qualifications include experience with protein production and microcrystallisation, reaction initiation methods such as mixing, laser pump–probe or T-jump, enzyme kinetics, Python programming, serial data-processing software such as CrystFEL or XDS, and radiation-damage studies. Applications should include a publication list and contact details for two referees.
How to apply
Submit an online application through the PSI recruitment portal by 10 January 2027. Include a list of publications and contact details for two referees, and reference position index no. 6121-29365.
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Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.