The Marie Curie Actions provide research training, career development and mobility schemes allowing researchers to be truly mobile both internationally and between commercial and non-commercial sectors. Principally  there are opportunities for researchers at any career stage and of any nationality. We cannot cover all possibilities, but group leader at our Institute accept, for example, postdoctoral researchers of the Incoming European and Incoming International MC Fellow scheme and assist them with their application. For example:

Research Group van Gastel:

Are you interested in helping us solve the world’s energy problem and working in one of Germany’s elite research institutions? In our institute, we work in the fields of chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry and we are devoted to the investigation of utilizing and converting renewable energy.

Project description: Living organisms that produce light have fascinated people for hundreds of years. Such organisms, like fireflies, glow worms, fish and bacteria are widespread in nature. In bioluminescence, the chemical energy stored in chemical bonds is converted into light with amazing efficiency (> 90%). Nevertheless, detailed information of the mechanism of bioluminescence at the electronic level has up to now only scarcely been obtained. The goal of this project is to better understand the high efficiency of bioluminescence by a combination of molecular biology, chemistry, spectroscopy (fluorescence, magnetic resonance) and quantum chemistry. The results are expected to provide a detailed picture of the mechanism by which bacteria produce light. Furthermore, the results are expected to allow a critical analysis of the structure-function relationship of the bioluminescent system and provide first useful insights for the synthesis of catalytically active bioinspired molecules.

We are presently looking for an experienced, independent and motivated scientist on the postdoc level. The interested candidate is requested to write a research proposal in close collaboration with the host institute and apply for a Marie Curie Fellowship (Intra European, IEF, or International Incoming, IIF). A successful candidate has a Ph. D. in either of the aforementioned areas or has four full-time years of research experience. Upon successful application of the Fellowship, the candidate will perform state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research of bioluminescent processes in the fields of chemistry, physics and biology. The candidate will work in an international research environment and has good communicative skills in the English language. The deadline for application is June 1st, 2012.

For additional information about the Marie Curie IEF and IIF actions, including all application requirements and timeline, see http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/people

If interested, please send your curriculum vitae to
Dr. M. van Gastel
Max-Planck-Institut für bioanorganische Chemie
Stiftstrasse 34-36
D-45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr (Germany)
E-Mail: maurice.van-gastel[at]mpi-mail.mpg.de
Website:  www.mpibac.mpg.de