Available positions/projects

PhD/Post-doc positions

There are regularly openings for PhD students and Post-docs in my group and neighbouring labs. If you are interested in joining, please send me your CV and a motivation letter.

Current openings (April 2024):

• PhD position on High speed AFM of virus assembly and dynamics           

The recent virus-based pandemic revealed again how important virological studies are. In order to be able to develop (more effective) vaccines and therapies, it is essential to understand how viruses are built up and how they function. In this project, you will perform High speed Atomic Force Microscopy (HS-AFM) experiments on virus assembly and dynamics to figure out the biophysical chemistry of these events.

We are looking for a team player with a MSc degree in Physics, Chemistry or a related discipline.

The position is expected to be filled within 6 months.

Inquiries and/or applications including a CV and motivation letter can be sent to

Wouter Roos: w.h.roos@rug.nl

For more information about the lab please visit

https://www.rug.nl/research/zernike/molecular-biophysics/

Post-doc opening on characterisation of molecular switches and motors           

In a joined project between the Wouter Roos & Ben Feringa groups @ RUG we have post-doc position opening on High Speed AFM studies of synthetic molecular machines. These machines enable dynamic functions, motility and mechanical functions in materials. In particular, two distinct types of assemblies, nanopores and nanofibres/nanotubes will be studied. By designing and optimising nano-pores with azobenzene, spiropyran or other photoactive moieties, both pore formation and pore opening/closing can be triggered in a non-invasive manner using visible light while the adaptive and actuating nanofibers/tubes are typically based on photoresponsive amphiphilic molecular motors. By further developing the High Speed AFM approach the molecular mode of action of the switches and motors will be scrutinized. The post-doc will execute the work in the lab of Prof. Wouter Roos and will work in close cooperation with the lab of Prof. Ben Feringa. Therefor a researcher with good interdisciplinary and communication skills are sought for. Experience with AFM is an advantage 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

For a list of previous PhD/Post-doc positions see below.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

PhD and Post-doc position on mechanics of viruses           

This EU project has as focus the characterization and identification of the material properties of viruses. Using innovative technological approaches and close collaboration with colleagues in France, Germany and Spain, in this project both enveloped as well as non-enveloped viruses will be studied. The Groningen part of the project focuses on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) characterization of viral nanoparticles. By AFM nanoindentation the viruses will be characterised mechanically. The PhD position (4 years) concentrates on the mechanics of enveloped viruses and the post-doc position (3 years) on non-enveloped viral nanoparticles. In this way, and in collaboration with the other consortium members, you will be able to make the next steps in viral characterisation and identification.   

We are looking for team players with a MSc degree in Physics, Chemistry or a related discipline.

Inquiries and/or applications including a CV, a motivation letter and the contact details of three academic references can be sent to

Wouter Roos: w.h.roos@rug.nl

For more information about the lab please visit

https://www.rug.nl/(...)olecular-biophysics/

• 2 PhD vacancies           

“Light triggered molecular switches & motors: Unravelling the molecular mechanism behind motion at the nanoscale”

Joined project Roos & Feringa groups with 2 PhD positions:

• one position focussing on high speed Atomic Force Microscopy and real time studies of dynamics (Roos lab).
• one position with emphasis on design, synthesis, assembly and functioning of switches and motors (Feringa lab).

Brief description PhD design & synthesis:

Synthetic molecular machines such as switches and motors have recently gained increasing interest as they enable dynamic functions, motility and mechanical functions in materials. In this project the focus is on the design, synthesis, assembly and functioning of photochemical switches and rotary motors with the ultimate goal to elucidate in real time the dynamics and mechanisms behind motion at the nanoscale. New switches and motor will be prepared and their dynamic properties tuned on demand via structural modifications. The elucidation of the photochemical isomerization processes, the design of visible light powered systems and the incorporation in larger functional supramolecular assemblies (both in solution and on surfaces) are examined. In particular, two distinct types of assemblies, nanopores and nanofibres/nanotubes will be studied. For instance, by designing and optimising nano-pores with azobenzene, spiropyran or other photoactive moieties, both pore formation and pore opening/closing can be triggered in a non-invasive manner using visible light while the adaptive and actuating nanofibers/tubes are typically based on photoresponsive amphiphilic molecular motors. By further developing the High Speed AFM approach the molecular mode of action of the switches and motors will be scrutinized. The two PhD students will work in close cooperation in the labs of Prof. Ben Feringa and Prof. Wouter Roos. Therefor students with good interdisciplinary and communication skills are sought for.

•    Developing High speed AFM for studies of vesicle dynamics

This project centres around the development of a High Speed AFM, together with an AFM company. The developed technique will be used to study the dynamics of artificial and cell-derived lipid vesicles. These vesicles are currently heavily studied for applications in nanomedicine, but their physical properties remain poorly understood. We will change this!

•    Viral assembly: what happens at the molecular level?

While the properties of virions (infectious viral particles) are increasingly well described, there remains a large gap in our knowledge concerning the ways in which they assemble. Using High Speed AFM as well as force spectroscopy approaches, we will now scrutinize the physics of the fascinatingly complex process of virus self-assembly.

For more details, please contact Wouter Roos, directly.

MSc projects

We are always looking for talented Master students to share our fascination for Physics of Life. Are you interested? Contact Wouter Roos to discuss possible projects and the involved methods and skills you can learn, while working on them.

BSc projects

We are always looking for talented Bachelor students, who want to make first steps in practical biophysics. Are you interested? Contact Wouter Roos to discuss possible projects and the involved methods and skills you can learn, while working on them.