VU University medical center
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Description
The Department of Physiology at VU University medical center performs research in the area of muscle structure and function. The research groups use state-of-the-art physiological setups, animal models, and human muscle biopsies to study muscle cell structure/function and to achieve insights into the pathophysiology of muscle diseases. The LaserLab (www.laserlab.nl) is widely recognized as a front running laboratory in single molecule fluorescence and in pushing the resolution limit of light microscopy. It has an excellent microscopy infrastructure. The combination of these two laboratories provides the unique opportunity to answer the question that has long been hovering over the field of muscle physiology: is nebulin a ruler protein? This project combines novel super-resolution microscopy techniques with state-of-the-art physiological approaches to answer a long-standing question: 'Does nebulin specify the length of the sarcomeric thin filament, a key structure in muscle?' The goal of this project is to develop / refine super-resolution microscopy techniques based on STORM (Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) and PALM (PhotoActivation Localization Microscopy) that are applicable to the muscle, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ir. Peterman at the LaserLaB at VU University in Amsterdam. Super-resolution microscopy will be applied in two mouse models and you will have the opportunity to visit a collaborating laboratory at the University of Arizona (USA) to learn techniques that are not available in Amsterdam. Main tasks and responsabilities are:
- Testing the hypothesis that the giant protein nebulin regulates thin filament length in muscle by using novel super-resolution microscopy techniques;
- Compare the results obtained with super-resolution microscopy with data from contractile experiments on single muscle cells from these models;
- Acting as a liason to build an infrastructural bridge between the department of Physiology with the department of Physics;
- Write and publish the results with the goal to receive your PhD.
- Compare the results obtained with super-resolution microscopy with data from contractile experiments on single muscle cells from these models;
- Acting as a liason to build an infrastructural bridge between the department of Physiology with the department of Physics;
- Write and publish the results with the goal to receive your PhD.
Requirements
- MSc degree in Physics, Medical Natural Science or a related discipline;
- Experience with fluorescence microscopy is preferred;
- A high level of interest in the fundamental aspects of science and affinity with translating these aspects to a physiological or clinical setting;
- A good command, both spoken and written, of the English language.
- Experience with fluorescence microscopy is preferred;
- A high level of interest in the fundamental aspects of science and affinity with translating these aspects to a physiological or clinical setting;
- A good command, both spoken and written, of the English language.
More information and applications
Salary: the first year you will receive a set monthly wage of EUR 2.141 gross based on a 36 hour working week. The monthly wage will increase yearly to the maximum wage in the fourth year of EUR 2.743 gross per month. Next to you a monthly base salary, we offer a 8,3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday pay. For more information on our fringe benefits, please visit www.werkenbijvumc.nl/werkenbijvumc/watbiedtvumc/
For more information about the project, you can contact dr. Coen Ottenheijm by e-mail (c.ottenheijm@vumc.nl) of by phone at +31 (0)20 – 444 8123.
Job number: AT D5.2012.00193WH
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