Open Positions
Diploma Thesis, Master and Bachelor Thesis
You can apply anytime if you'd like to fulfill part of the requirements for your final degree with us. A strong interest in physical chemistry and good performance in that field will help you enjoy your task. Should you consider to do a doctor's degree later in our group as well, then you should have a look at the profiles described below.
Open Ph.D. position at the interface of experiment and simulation:
A full time PhD position in coarse-grained molecular modelling is open in the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) group at ETH Zurich. The primary objective for the candidate is to design, implement, and use a coarse-grained representation for intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). In particular, the resultant model will incorporate artificial and experimental EPR restraints and be used to run EPR-constrained molecular dynamics calculations to determine experimentally guided, conformational ensembles for IDPs of biological interest.
The four-year project is funded by ETH Zurich and will be supervised by Dr. Maxim Yulikov (ETH, Jeschke group) in cooperation with Dr. Andreas Vitalis (UZH, Caflisch group) and will benefit from the experimental input from several ongoing structural biology projects in the Jeschke group at ETH. It will be highly advantageous for candidates to have prior practical experience in setting up classical, molecular simulations and to possess excellent skills in physical chemistry and its mathematical foundations. Prior programming experience and good communication skills are a definite plus.
To make the project successful, independent work will need to be efficiently combined with regular meetings and discussions, as well as practical cooperation with EPR, simulation, and molecular biology experts. To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Dr. Maxim Yulikov: . In the evaluation process, two support letters from previous research project or university course supervisors will be requested. The starting date for this project cannot be later than 01.08.2025. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible: the position will be closed as soon as an appropriate candidate is found.
Ph.D. students/ Doktoranden
We may not always have open positions, but we are continually interested in applications of students who fit one of the following profiles:
EPR method development
You are a physicist or a chemist with strong interest in physical chemistry and magnetic resonance techniques. Your strengths are in operating complex instruments and in the mathematical description of physical phenomena. You do not shy away from programming in a high-level language. You wish to communicate with the other people in the group who are interested in the methods that you develop.
Biostructure characterization
You are a chemist with a strong interest in physical chemistry, a physicist with a strong interest in biophysics, or a biologist with a strong interest in physical characterization methods. In any case you will be able to handle complex instruments and to work with delicate samples that have been prepared in small quantities and with much effort by our collaboration partners. You want to communicate with scientists who have their background in a different field than your own.
Magnetic resonance theory
You are a chemist with an interest in both theoretical and physical chemistry or a physicist with some affinity to molecules and their structure. You like programming at least as much as working with ready-made programs. You want to learn application of quantum chemistry programs and the theoretical description of spin dynamics by the density operator formalism.
Post-doctoral research
Generally, we do have more applicants for post-doctoral research than we have positions. That said, we shall always consider good applicants. Look at the profiles above and think whether you have special experience that would aid (or complement) such work. You are also welcome if you have an idea for your own project as long as it fits our infrastructure and general direction of research. Please do not apply if your Ph.D. work (or previous Post-Doc) has no connection to our current research.