Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology Group: …, Castelldefels

Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology Group: Post-doctoral position in advanced optical trapping within cells and biomolecular condensates ICFO is offering postdoctoral positions to a well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic young scientists who wish to enhance their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment. The successful candidate will be joining the Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology group led by Prof. Dr. Michael Krieg who is searching for highly motivated researcher to join his team and investigate how intracellular pH changes regulate the mechanical properties and phase transitions of biomolecular condensates. The position is part of the funded project pHACE.transitions, an interdisciplinary initiative combining biophysics, molecular biology, optical trapping, NMR spectroscopy, microfluidics, and neurophysiology to uncover a fundamentally new mechanism of sensory adaptation in neurons. Biomolecular condensates are dynamic, membraneless organelles formed through phase separation. Their material properties—fluidity, elasticity, and internal architecture—can shift dramatically in response to subtle biochemical cues. Our recent findings show that MEC-2 stomatin, a protein involved force transmission during the sense of touch, undergoes a viscoelastic phase transition upon binding to UNC-89, a neuronal titn homolog. These changes affect intermolecular interactions and ultimately reshape condensate mechanics to facilitate neuronal mechanotransduction. The goal of this position is to unravel how pH-dependent molecular interactions translate into macroscopic mechanical behaviors of condensates, both in vitro and in living cells. The successful candidate will lead optical tweezer microrheology experiments to quantify the viscoelastic properties and phase transitions of MEC-2 and related protein condensates. Working closely with team members and collaborators in NMR spectroscopy, and C. elegans neurobiology, the candidate will:

- Perform optical tweezer–based force microrheology to measure condensate mechanics (elasticity, viscosity, relaxation dynamics) using existing technology of the lab.

- Quantify pH-dependent changes in condensate material properties and relate them to specific molecular interactions.

- Design and execute in vitro reconstitution experiments with purified proteins and targeted mutants.

- Collaborate with cell biologists and electrophysiologists to extend in vitro findings to heterologous cells and C. elegans neurons.

- An optional asset is the integrate the optical measurements with microfluidics-based buffer handling and automation of the optical rheology assays.

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