Research Associate / PhD Student (m/f/x) for a MSCA-DN project

TUD Dresden University of Technology, as a University of Excellence, is one of the leading and most dynamic research institutions in the country. Founded in 1828, today it is a globally oriented, regionally anchored top university as it focuses on the grand challenges of the 21st century. It develops innovative solutions for the world's most pressing issues. In research and academic programs, the university unites the natural and engineering sciences with the humanities, social sciences and medicine. This wide range of disciplines is a special feature, facilitating interdisciplinarity and transfer of science to society. As a modern employer, it offers attractive working conditions to all employees in teaching, research, technology and administration. The goal is to promote and develop their individual abilities while empowering everyone to reach their full potential. TUD embodies a university culture that is characterized by cosmopolitanism, mutual appreciation, thriving innovation and active participation. For TUD diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and productivity to the success of the whole institution.

At the Center for Molecular Bioengineering (B CUBE), the Chair of BioNano-Tools offers, subject to the availability of resources, a position as

Research Associate / PhD Student (m/f/x) for a MSCA-DN project

starting October 1, 2026. The position is initially limited to 24 months max. until November 30, 2028. An extension to allow completion of the PhD project is intended. The period of employment is governed by the Fixed Term Research Contracts Act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz – WissZeitVG). The PhD student will receive a salary, including a living allowance, a mobility allowance and a family allowance (if eligible). Applicants may be of any nationality. However, at the date of recruitment, the applicant must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the last 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment.

Tasks: (i) biochemical preparation of motor proteins, (ii) setup of in vitro motility assays, (iii) development of strategies to mechanically couple molecular motors, (iv) dynamic acquisition of motor-driven movement by high-resolution fluorescence microscopy and/or magnetic/optical tweezers, (iv) quantitative image processing, data analysis and modeling.

The project is funded by the MARIE SKŁODOWSKA CURIE ACTIONS (MSCA) Doctoral Network (DN) MOtorized NAnomachines: fundamentaLs, InnovationS, Applications (MONALISA) within the Horizon 2020 Program of the European Commission [ DN MONALISA, a consortium of nine partners composed of high-profile universities, research institutions and companies located in Europe, will train 15 doctoral candidates in a highly innovative and interdisciplinary scientific network. Scientifically, artificial molecular machine research and technologies are critical fields with the potential to offer significant benefits to chemical synthesis, medical technologies and treatment, smart materials, and nanotechnology. However, due to their novelty, there is a shortage of specialists in this sector, resulting in limited research manpower. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program, the MONALISA project will bring together specialists, Nobel laureates, prestigious institutions, and various non-academic partners to develop and implement an innovative training program for doctoral candidates. This extensive, in-depth training from expert researchers will enable the candidates to gain a deep understanding of the field and transform their findings into innovative solutions.

In this research project, the PhD student will aim to reconstitute artificial systems that mimic the oscillatory behavior observed in biological processes. Thereby, the focus will be on designing and investigating systems (i) that involve the bidirectional movement of cargo bound to motor proteins with opposite polarities along microtubules and/or (ii) where two or more microtubules are moved relative to each other by motor proteins, effectively cross-linking these filaments. To delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms, the PhD student will employ various strategies to link and couple motor proteins together within synthetic engineered systems. This may involve introducing mechanical constraints, such as restoring forces, to the system. The PhD student will investigate the minimal set of components that are needed to generate robust oscillations. The outcomes of this research will offer valuable insights for designing innovative, nanoscale systems with controllable, oscillatory behavior.

The key tasks of the PhD student are: (i) to manage and carry out research projects, (ii) to attend and participate in research and training activities within the MONALISA network and local courses, (iii) to write scientific articles and a PhD thesis, as well as (iv) disseminate research in the scientific community.

Requirements:

• Applicants should hold a university degree (MSc or equivalent) in in the field of biology, (bio)physics, (bio)chemistry or (bio)engineering and have excellent English skills.
• Applicants should be ambitious, curious, creative, energetic and bright minds with a strong eagerness to take part in the research and training activities of this project. Candidates will be integrated in an international multi-disciplinary team and shall therefore have excellent personal skills and be able to work in a team.
• The position will be located in Dresden, Germany. Secondments to national and international partner groups are envisioned.
• Applicants must, at the date of recruitment, have NOT yet been awarded the doctoral degree and have to be in the first 4 years (full time equivalent) of their research career.

A career development plan for the PhD student will be prepared in accordance with his/her supervisor and will include training, planned secondments and outreach activities in partner institutions of the network.

We offer:

• the opportunity for engaging and independent work within a flat hierarchy, in an open-minded team and supportive atmosphere
• flexible arrangements for work hours to support a good work-life balance
• 30 days of vacation per year (based on a 5-day workweek)
• extensive opportunities for professional development and continuing education
• health care and sports programs offered by TUD
• a discounted job ticket (also available as a Deutschlandticket)
• participation in the supplementary pension scheme for employees in the public sector via VBL (Federal and State Government Employees Retirement Fund)

TUD strives to employ more women in academia and research. We therefore expressly encourage women to apply. The university is a family-friendly university. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If multiple candidates prove to be equally qualified, those with disabilities or with equivalent status pursuant to the German Social Code IX (SGB IX) will receive priority for employment.

Application: Please submit your detailed application with a motivation letter, CV, publication list and two references by July 31, 2026 (stamped arrival date or the time stamp on the email server of TUD applies), preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal by sending it as a single pdf file to [email protected] or to:

TU Dresden, B CUBE, Prof. Stefan Diez, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany.

Please submit copies only, as your application will not be returned to you. Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed.

Reference to data protection: Your data protection rights, the purpose for which your data will be processed, as well as further information about data protection is available to you on the website: .

Company

TU Dresden

Excellence – A matter close to our hearts

Excellence? Elitism? Opportunity or risk? The Excellence Programme, initially launched in 2005 by the German government has aroused passionate debate right from the start and still has the potential to polarise opinion.

TU Dresden (TUD) looks at it this way: excellence is all about performance and having the right attitude. For everyone here at TU Dresden – one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany since 2012 – it is also a matter very close to our hearts. Firstly because of the extra motivation and impetus generated, and secondly, because of the way we handle this role.

Our vision for the future can be summed up as follows: “Let us become one of the leading centres for research and teaching, with our own individual character and a special talent for networking, able to attract the best minds in Germany and from further afield.” After all, it is a well-known fact that excellence in research and teaching presupposes excellent conditions. Or, to put it figuratively, for excellent crop yields, you need the right soil and weather.

TU Dresden is a comprehensive university with 18 faculties and works in close collaboration with its top performers: three Clusters of Excellence, including the “Centre for Tactile Internet” (CeTI) , the Cluster “Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter” (ct.qmat) and the Cluster “Physics of Life” (PoL) . The guiding principle here is that strong individual elements become even stronger when they work together.

The vision for the future takes this principle beyond the confines of the university: with the research network DRESDEN-concept ( D resden R esearch and E ducation S ynergies for the D evelopment of E xcellence and N ovelty), TU Dresden has been creating an alliance of research and cultural facilities in the city, an “excellent playground for excellent people”. This bond is unique in Germany and has evolved over many years. It is not necessary to create anything new here, as it is simply a matter of building further storeys on top of an already solid structure. The measures envisaged as part of the DRESDEN-concept contribute to the overall development of TU Dresden and form an integral part of the university strategy.

Excellence is understood and practised in Dresden as an opportunity for the entire university, and in this spirit, TU Dresden takes those measures that lead to excellence – by the university, for the university – in cooperation with colleagues here and all over the world. But at the same time neither elitist nor exclusive. TUD’s excellence comes from the heart – from and for our about 32,400 students, 600 professors and about 8,400 members of staff. In this way, excellence becomes the basis, the objective, the approach and the driving force. And that’s why being a top performer can also be so rewarding and enjoyable.

Campus Image © Nils Eisfeld

Company info

Location

Dresden
01069 Dresden
Germany