-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Postdoctoral positions in self-limited assembly at Brandeis
Bioinspired Materials MRSEC
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2020 07:52:13 -0400
From: Ben Rogers <[log in para visualizar]>
To: [log in para visualizar]
*Openings: Four Postdoctoral Researchers in Self-Limited Assembly,
Brandeis University*
(1, 2) Experimental Soft Matter (DNA origami and self-assembly);
(3) Computational Soft Matter (Modeling self-assembly pathways);
(4) Theoretical Soft Matter (Theory-directed design)
We seek four postdocs to join a multidisciplinary, tightly integrated
team of four investigators within the Brandeis Bioinspired Soft
Materials research center (Ben Rogers, Seth Fraden, Mike Hagan, and Greg
Grason) to design and synthesize new DNA-origami building blocks,
elucidate the mechanisms of their assembly into self-limiting
architectures, and model the assembly pathways using theory and computer
simulation. Our team of students, postdocs and faculty will work
together across groups and disciplines to achieve our goals. This
position offers ample opportunities for your professional development
including participating in exciting cutting-edge science, gaining
mentoring experience, and initiating your own research directions.
The team will develop a versatile class of DNA-origami building blocks
to elucidate the fundamental physical principles for engineering
components that self-assemble into large, but finite-size,
superstructures. The self-assembly of size-controlled architectures is
prevalent in living systems. The adaptive functions of biological
materials, including viral shells, cytoskeletal filaments, and photonic
nanostructures of bird feathers arise from the regulated finite size of
self-assembled architectures. In contrast, most inorganic materials form
unlimited structures like crystals. In this project, we will advance two
complementary paradigms for bottom-up assembly of size-controlled
architectures: one uses curved building blocks that assemble into
self-closing structures; the other uses ill-fitting blocks that
accumulate distortions upon assembly to form structures with open
boundaries.
This research addresses many fundamental questions in self-assembly: How
do shapes, interactions, and flexibilities of building blocks control
the assembly size? How can self-limiting assembly be adapted to distinct
morphologies, like ropes, fibers, sheets or shells? Are there
fundamental or practical limits to the sizes of controllably assembled
structures? By answering these questions and more, we aim to develop
engineering principles to create size-controlled architectures with high
yield. A timely application envisioned for this new technology is a
general anti-viral agent, e.g. a covid cure.
*(1, 2) Design, characterization, and self-assembly of DNA-origami
building blocks. */Qualifications: /Experience in experimental
soft-matter physics or DNA nanotechnology. Tasks: Design and
characterize DNA-origami building blocks and their subsequent
higher-order assemblies. Individual building blocks will be
characterized with electron microscopy (EM), including single-particle
cryoEM. Assemblies will be characterized using EM, optical microscopy,
and light scattering. The goal is to understand mechanisms by which
components self-assemble into large, but finite-size, superstructures.
Supervisors: Profs. Rogers and Fraden (Brandeis).
*(3) Computational modeling of assembly pathways.* /Qualifications:
/Experience in computational physics, including molecular dynamics and
Monte Carlo simulations. Tasks: Simulate assembly of finite-sized
architectures using molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo approaches.
Supervisors: Profs. Rogers, Fraden, and Hagan (Brandeis).
*(4) Theory-directed design of new assemblies. */Qualifications:
/Experience in soft-matter theory, discrete geometry, and computational
physics. Applicants are sought with interests in fields such as soft
matter, thermodynamics, and materials science. Tasks: Design particle
shapes and interactions. Simulate DNA-origami designs using available
computational packages, including oxDNA and ENRG MD. Develop theoretical
predictions of target assemblies and design rules. Supervisors: Profs.
Rogers (Brandeis), Hagan (Brandeis), and Grason (UMass: Amherst).
Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Brandeis
University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer M/W/D/V.
*Start Date: *September 2020. *Location: *Brandeis University MRSEC,
Waltham, MA, USA
Submit applications to [log in para visualizar]
<mailto:[log in para visualizar]> and specify the position you are
applying for. Please include a CV, a list of references, and a brief
description of your previous research.
For more information, see our individual group websites:
www.rogers-lab.com<http://www.rogers-lab.com/>
www.fradenlab.com<http://www.fradenlab.com/>
www.brandeis.edu/physics/hagan/index.html<http://www.brandeis.edu/physics/hagan/index.html>
www.pse.umass.edu/faculty/researchgroup/grason/group
<http://www.pse.umass.edu/faculty/researchgroup/grason/group>
--
W. Benjamin Rogers
Assistant Professor
Martin A. Fisher School of Physics
Brandeis University
Tel: (781) 736-2857
http://www.rogers-lab.com
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Giancarlo Franzese, University Professor; Professor of Physics;
Professor of Biomedical Engineering, ICREA Academia Awardee.
P. I. of the Group of Statistical Physics of Complex Matter,
Seccio' de Fisica Estadistica i Interdisciplinaria--Departament de
Fisica de la Materia Condensada (Office 428), Facultat de Fisica,
& Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB),
Universitat de Barcelona, Marti i Franques 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
PHONE: +34 934039212 / FAX: +34 934021149 / Secretary: +34 934021150
E-MAIL: [log in para visualizar]
ResearcherID: A-9655-2009 Orcid ID: 0000-0003-3006-2766
Scopus Author ID: 7003330838 Loop profile: 109112
BOOK: Aspects of Physical Biology www.springer.com/978-3-540-78764-8
ISSUE: Nonequilibrium Phenomena in Confined Systems mdpi.com/si/7262
WEB: http://www.ffn.ub.es/gfranzese (with PDF of publications)
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