PhD Candidate in Structural Biology of Wnt Signaling

This PhD position at Masaryk University’s Tripsianes Research Group in Brno, Czech Republic, focuses on unravelling the structural and functional mechanisms of the Dishevelled (DVL) protein in Wnt signaling pathways. The project integrates structural biology (NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM), biophysical techniques (FRET, ITC, BLI), and cellular assays to investigate how DVL’s conformational plasticity regulates signal transduction. Candidates will address three key questions: the role of intrinsic disorder in DVL function, the hierarchy of phosphorylation events, and the physical behaviors of DVL phase separation. The research aims to advance fundamental understanding of Wnt signaling with potential broader implications for biomedical research.

• Conduct structural and biophysical experiments (NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, FRET, ITC, BLI) to investigate DVL protein dynamics.
• Develop and validate cellular assays (TopFlash, BRET) to study Wnt signaling pathways.
• Perform proteomic analyses to map DVL interaction networks and phosphorylation sites.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data to elucidate the role of disorder and phase separation in DVL function.
• Present research findings at internal lab meetings and external conferences.
• Collaborate with core facility staff to access state-of-the-art equipment and expertise.