PhD Position in Magnetic Manipulation of Molecules in Living Cells at University of Twente - Nederlands

PhD position: Magnetic Manipulation of Molecules in Living Cells

Research
The aim in this project is to develop an innovative biophysical approach based on the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that will allow us to exert forces on, and actively manipulate, individual receptor proteins on the surface of living cells using smart external magnetic fields. It is anticipated that active manipulation of these receptor proteins will provide a very powerful tool that will give new insights into biophysical processes in cells. Exploring the physics of this new technology is the primary objective. To demonstrate the power of this biophysical method, it will be applied to address key issues in cell signaling. By controlling the aggregation of membrane-associated receptor molecules, the state of immune system T cells can be actively switched from an `inactive` to an `active state`, thereby mimicking a process that is crucial in cell signaling.



The work will be carried out in the Biophysical Engineering Group, which has a long-standing experience in developing physical tools to study biology on the molecular and cellular scale. The group has a well equipped laboratory with a wide variety of both home-build and commercial setups such as AFM, optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, FLIM, TIRF and CLSM. The current project builds on the vast experience of the group in the application of magnetic tweezers to cell biophysics (see e.g. a.h.b.deVries et al., 2007, Nano Letters 7:1424-1427). You can expect to be part of a team of enthusiastic and inspiring colleagues. The research group is part of the MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine and the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, and participates in the new Twente Graduate School. For the application of the method on living cells we will collaborate with prof. C.G. Figdor from the NCMLS at the Radboud University of Nijmegen.

Job description
You will design and fabricate a magnetic tweezers setup to generate appropriate external magnetic fields and integrate this with a state-of-the-art fluorescence microscope. You will perform Brownian dynamics simulations and develop an experimental model system based on artificial membranes in order to characterize the physical aspects of protein manipulation using MNPs. You will assess various techniques (optical and non-optical) to visualize the magnetically induced changes in protein/MNP distributions. Finally you will apply the method to study receptor aggregation dynamics in T-cells.

Location
University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.

Requirements
We are looking for an experimentalist with a background in experimental (bio-) physics, who is interested to work in the new and rapidly developing field of nanobiophysics.

Conditions of Employment
When fulfilling a PhD position at the FOM foundation, you will get the status of junior scientist.
You will have an employee status and can participate in all the employee benefits FOM offers. You will get a contract for 4 years. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 2,610 euro gross per month.
You are supposed to have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term with FOM.
A training programme is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for the additional education and supervising that you specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of 10% of your time). The conditions of employment of the FOM-foundation are laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres (CAO-Onderzoekinstellingen), more exclusive information is available at this website under Personeelsinformatie (in Dutch) or under Personnel (in English).
General information about working at FOM can be found in the English part of this website under Personnel. The `FOM-sollicitatiecode` (in Dutch) applies to this position.

Contact
For more information please contact Hans Kanger tel.: +31 (0)53 489 37 26, or Prof. Vinod Subramaniam.

Website
http://www.universiteittwente.nl

Applications
Dr.ir. J. S. Kanger
Biophysical Engineering Group
University of Twente
PO Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands

or by email to:
BPE@tnw.utwente.nl
Incomplete or mass-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications should include a resume, list of grades, and a one-page motivation.

Closing time
31 March 2010

Master Scholarship in Various Programme by Dutch Government (StuNed Programme)

Netherlands Scholarship

Master Scholarship in Various Programme by Dutch Government (StuNed Programme)

StuNed, Studeren in Nederland, is a scholarship programme focusing on mid-career professionals, as part of the bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands. The scholarship programme aims to contribute to the development of Indonesia through strengthening the human resources of Indonesian organisations. Individual applicants may apply for master degree or short courses in the Netherlands, whilst institutions may apply through the StuNed Group Application and/or for refresher courses.

The StuNed programme is supporting the Dutch policy for development co-operation with Indonesia and aims to contribute to the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals in 2015. The framework for the bilateral relations between the Netherlands government with Indonesia is laid down in the Multi-Annual Strategic Plan 2008-2011 (MASP). The overall objective is to strengthen bilateral relations and to support Indonesia in realizing its medium term development goals. The MASP aims to achieve the the following four strategic goals:

1. Improved democracy, stability, human rights and governance, resulting in a just and safe society;
2. Improved economic governance, resulting in sustainable economic growth and an equal distribution of growth through society, in order to decrease poverty more rapidly;
3. Improved environmental and climate policy and implementation, resulting in increased use of renewable energy, sustainable management of natural resources, reducing emissions of greenhouse gas and adaptation to climate change;
4. Intensified bilateral relations through a `comprehensive partnership framework`.

The StuNed programme focuses on generating and strengthening institutional capacity in support of the above mentioned strategic goals. Related study fields are: education, rural development, environment, water management and sanitation, trade, good governance and human rights, gender, and culture.

Candidate`s profiles
The target group for the StuNed scholarships programme will be Indonesian mid-career professionals. Priority will be given to candidates from Indonesian partner organisations of the Dutch Embassy: ministries, local governments, NGOs and in some cases also the private sector.

The ideal StuNed candidates is strongly committed to develop human resources in Indonesia; to increase the institutional capacity of the Indonesian partner organizations; to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands, and the effectiveness of the existing cooperation projects.

Eligible courses
In general, all international training and degree courses offered by Dutch providers are eligible, as long as the chosen programme is in line with the priority areas as mentioned in the Multi Annual Strategic Plan (MASP) 2008-2011. An overview of these courses can be found in www.studyinholland.nl

StuNed for Master Degree Programmes
Main requirements to apply:

- be an Indonesian national;
- have earned a S1 or Bachelor`s degree or its equivalent at a recognized university in Indonesia; be able to provide evidence of the academic achievements (minimum G.P.A. score 2.75):
- relevant work experience for at least two years;
- have an academic or professional background that is related to the subject of the course;
- be full time available for the entire period of the study programme or course and be able to participate in and complete all courses;
- TOEFL Computer based 213, or ITP 550, IELTS 6)
- be admitted to one of the courses or programmes offered by Institutes of Higher Education in the Netherlands for the academic year 2010;
- no age limit, but priority will be given to mid-career professionals.

Eligible study programmes
All master courses in www.studyinholland.nl with a duration of less then two years, and with a clear relation to the objectives of the StuNed programme.

The deadline for submission of complete application forms is 30 April 2010.
Application form can be download here

StuNed for Tailor-Made Training Programmes
Institutions, consortia and functional networks (hereafter called institutions/networks) may submit a collective application for staff upgrading. Training needs can consist of existing master courses (including the Dutch part of a double degree programmes) and short courses or tailor made programmes.

Priority will be given to the Indonesian partner organisations of the Dutch Embassy. Institutions and other organization related to the development sectors which are mentioned in the MASP are also eligible.

Tailor made programmes are defined as short courses of which the starting date, location and/or time frame is adjusted to the institutions requirements. The programme may take place entirely or partly in Indonesia or the Netherlands.

Detailed information on procedures, deadlines and guidelines for proposals and forms, please contact: general@nesoindonesia.or.id

Refresher Courses
The refresher course is designed for the Dutch alumni and StuNed alumni in particular. The aim of refresher courses is to refresh and up-date the alumni with the latest knowledge and skill in their fields. Priority will be given to issues relate to the MASP.

Proposal may be requested by the institutions where the alumni work for. The entirely programme will be held in Indonesia for two weeks.

For more information on refresher course please e-mail: general@nesoindonesia.or.id

Website link:
http://www.nesoindonesia.or.id/indonesian-students/information-in-english/scholarships/stuned

Beasiswa StuNed Belanda untuk Para Mid-career Professional Indonesia

StuNed

StuNed, singkatan dari Studeren in Nederland atau studi di Belanda, adalah program beasiswa yang diberikan oleh pemerintah Belanda kepada para mid-career professional Indonesia sebagai bagian dari bentuk kerjasama bilateral antara pemerintah Belanda dan Indonesia.

Program Beasiswa StuNed

Program beasiswa StuNed bertujuan membantu pembangunan Indonesia melalui peningkatan sumber daya manusia pada institusi-institusi di Indonesia. Melalui program beasiswa StuNed, para peminat individual dapat mengikuti program master dan short course di Belanda. Sementara bagi institusi dapat mengajukan proposal untuk group application dan atau refresher course.

Prioritas akan diberikan kepada calon peserta yang berasal dari organisasi-organisasi lokal yang ber mitra dengan Kedutaan Besar Kerajaan Belanda seperti departemen/lembaga pemerintah non departemen, pemerintah daerah, LSM dan juga sektor swasta yang memiliki keterkaitan erat dengan isu-isu pembangunan.yang relevan dengan Multi-Annual Strategic Plan (MASP) 2008-2011. Kedutaan Besar Kerajaan Belanda. Di samping itu, prioritas juga diberikan kepada kandidat perempuan dan calon peserta dari luar Jawa.

Merujuk kepada MASP Kedutaan Belanda, berikut adalah sektor-sektor yang mendapatkan prioritas dan perhatian dari program beasiswa StuNed:

· pendidikan

· good governance

· iklim investasi

· manajemen air

· penyediaan air bersih dan sanitasi

· lingkungan (fokus pada gambut)

· energi yang berkelanjutan

Semua program studi terkait sektor di atas menggunakan bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa pengantar, karenanya kemampuan berbahasa Inggris (IELTS/TOEFL) menjadi salah satu syarat utama program beasiswa ini.

Setelah menyelesaikan studi di Belanda, penerima beasiswa diharuskan kembali ke Indonesia dan diharapkan meneruskan komitmennya bagi pembangunan melalui institusi tempat mereka bekerja.

Profil Kandidat

Program beasiswa StuNed dibuat khusus untuk para profesional Indonesia dengan masa kerja minimum dua tahun di tempat kerja terakhir. Prioritas diberikan kepada mereka yang bekerja pada organisasi-organisasi mitra Kedutaan Besar Kerajaan Belanda.

Kandidat StuNed idealnya memiliki komitmen untuk meningkatkan sumber daya manusia dan kapasitas institusi dari mitra Kedutaan Besar Kerajaan Belanda, memperkuat kerja sama bilateral antara Indonesia dan Belanda dan juga meningkatkan efektivitas dari program-program kerja yang sedang berjalan.


Pilihan Program Studi

Secara umum program studi yang terdapat di situs www.studyinholland.nl dan berkaitan erat dengan fokus area MASP Kedutaan Besar Kerajaan Belanda dan sektor-sektor pembangunan Indonesia dapat dipilih, misalnya:

* Law and human rights studies

* Social studies

* Environmental studies

* Urban and regional planning

* Agriculture oriented studies

* Education oriented studies

info lengkap bisa di baca di sini