From molecular dynamics, recognition and organization to membrane transport and motility
A highly interdisciplinary graduate college funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), titled Nano-Analytics of Cellular Systems (NanoCell), has the major goal to train next generation multidisciplinary graduates for frontier research in life- and cellular nano-science. Its scientific aim is to span the gap between the process of molecular recognition and structural rearrangements on the one side, and membrane transport and cell motility on the other.
The educational and research program integrates a broad basis of scientific and technological fields related to biophysics, cell biology, nanotechnology, applied physics, theoretical physics, bioorganic and inorganic chemistry, structural and molecular biology, mathematic modelling, and scientifc computing. Participating institutions are: Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU), Institute of Science and Technology (IST), and Vienna University of Technology (TUW). All selection procedures, training activities, and communication are in English.
Date: September 3rd, 2019
Time: 09:00 - 13:00
Location: Institute of Biophysics
Seminar room: UG1 (basement)
Gruberstrasse 40, 4020 Linz
Agenda for each selected student:
- presentation of master thesis (15 min)
- presentation of one original research paper related to the future PhD thesis and selected by the student (5 min)
- personal interview (10 min)
The students will enter the programm with diverse academic background, as their specific Master's degree is earned in various disciplines of natural science and engineering. In order to complement this specific background, core lectures, lecture courses, and practical courses are offered in the following topical fields: (i) MOLECULAR & CELL BIOLOGY, (ii) IMAGING & SPECTROSCOPY, and (iii) STRUCTURAL & FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS AND MODELING.
The following table gives a survey on the total minimum credit points to be achieved by the students during their PhD thesis in the different categories.
| Core lecture courses | 6 ECTS |
| Lecture courses | 3 ECTS |
| Practical courses | 6 ECTS |
| Laboratory rotations | 4 ECTS |
| Journal Club | 3 ECTS |
| Work in progress seminar | 3 ECTS |
| Soft skills | 4 ECTS |
| Conferences and retreat | 3 ECTS |
| TOTAL | 32 ECTS |
Core lecture courses, lecture courses, laboratory courses are tailored for each student individually, dependent on the student's education, experience, and topics of the thesis. Below possible constellations for a biologist and a physicist are given.
| BIOLOGIST | ||
| Core Lecture | Lecture Course | Laboratory Course |
| Biophysics | Membrane channels and transporters | Patch Clamp |
| Biological interaction analysis | Practical course in structural biology | |
| PHYSICIST | ||
| Core Lecture | Lecture Course | Laboratory Course |
| Molecular biology of the cell | Optical microscopy on biomolecules | LRET microscopy |
| Biological interaction analysis | Quantitative methods of measuring cell adhesion |
Monthly meetings are alternating organized by the PIs and held 4 times per semester, 3 of them in Linz and 1 in Vienna. They consist of a journal club, where the students discuss recent scientific articles selected by a panel lead by the student of the organizing PI. Articles are chosen in fields of potential interests to all students of the doctorate college and attendance is mandatory. The student of the organizing PI chair the discussion. Journal clubs are held in the morning followed by a social lunch meeting to enhance team formation and communication. Thereafter an external speaker invited by the student of the organizing PI presents a lecture. In the succeeding work in progress seminar 3-4 students present their research and critically discuss it with their colleagues and the PIs. Each student is challenged one time per semester for the progress report.
The guideline of the program includes participation in the annual "Linz Winter Workshop" at the first February weekend and an annual Summer School (2 credit points per year), the latter of which is held in a lake resort 1 driving hour from Linz mid of June.
The annual Linz Winter Workshop is held since 1999 and has in the meantime developed to a conference with 150 - 200 attendees. Aim of this workshop is to provide a common platform for industry and academia. It focusses on biological single-molecule research and nanoscience, including force and optical microscopy/spectroscopy techniques , with various special sessions in each year. All DK students present posters in the general session and, in 2017, two of them were selected for short oral talks
Preceeding to the conference, young scientists and newcomers learn about advanced atomic force microscopy techniques and fluorescence microscopy methods in the Linz Winter School with introductory lectures, demo sessions and hands-on experiments. In this school the DK students participate in their first year.
The Summer School is organized as a more intimate event. About 10 renowned international scientists present their research and, at the same time, serve in the advisory board. All DK students present short talks and are exposed to the advisory board in an extended poster session. This ensures that the DK students have access to a wide input into their research. The DK students, the advisory board, and the DK faculty meet for 3 days and there is time for all board meetings (Student, Faculty and General Assembly) and an excursion.
Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
Altenberger Straße 69
4040 Linz, Österreich
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