Mathias Munschauer

Heidelberg University’s Munschauer Lab at the Centre for Integrative Infectious Disease Research is seeking a doctoral researcher in RNA biology. The project forms part of the DFG Collaborative Research Centre CRC/TRR 440 smART and explores how RNA interactions can be harnessed to improve therapeutic messenger RNA. The PhD researcher will dissect and characterize cellular RNA-protein interactions with high spatial and temporal resolution. The work includes recombinant production and purification of RNA-binding proteins, analysis of their binding preferences using biochemical and biophysical methods, and in-vitro synthesis of mRNA for formulation into lipid nanoparticle delivery systems. The project will also investigate lipid nanoparticle quality and use cell-based assays to study RNA delivery, intracellular transport, stability, translation, decay and payload expression. The researcher will work at the interface of experimental RNA biology, RNA biochemistry and bioinformatics, collaborating closely with wet-lab scientists and bioinformaticians across the interdisciplinary CRC/TRR 440 smART network. The international research environment provides access to RNA biochemistry, cell biology, mass spectrometry, genomics, single-cell transcriptomics and bioinformatics approaches. Doctoral training is supported through the Department of Infectious Diseases and the integrated CRC/TRR 440 smART graduate school, with opportunities for scientific networking, collaborative activities, retreats and a summer school.