PhD Student position in Time-Resolved Structural Biology of Color Vision 80 %

Join Us at the University of Zurich

The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, is dedicated to providing an inspiring work environment featuring cutting-edge research and top-class education. With a workforce of approximately 10,000 employees and 12 professional apprenticeship streams, we offer a variety of engaging opportunities across multiple subject areas and professional fields. Explore the potential to put your talents and skills to good use with us.

Your Responsibilities

In this PhD project, you will:

• Study the activation mechanism of cone opsins, which are vital to human color vision, employing advanced structural biology techniques.
• Utilize time-resolved X-ray crystallography at the Swiss X-ray Free Electron Laser.
• Implement single-particle cryo-electron microscopy at the UZH facilities.
• Manage the protein production and functional characterization of your research targets.
• Contribute to the Biomolecular Structure and Mechanisms program of the Life Science Zürich Graduate School.

Your Profile

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a Master's degree in biochemistry, chemistry, structural biology, biophysics, or a related discipline, with completion expected before February 2026.
• Possess experience in one or more areas such as cryo-EM, membrane protein biochemistry/biophysics, X-ray crystallography, or spectroscopy.
• Demonstrate strong intrinsic motivation to engage in ambitious, interdisciplinary projects at the forefront of structural biology.

Embrace the opportunity to contribute to innovative research while being part of a dynamic academic community.