Are you excited by protein self-assembly and biomolecular materials?
We have an open PhD position in the Center for Molecular Protein Science at Lund University, focused on understanding and engineering 2D protein assembly formation for future applications in biomaterials and biomedicine.
This PhD project invites you to explore how designed proteins can become building blocks for the materials of the future. The project will focus on the experimental characterization of two-dimensional self-assemblies of AI-designed proteins. These protein architectures are envisioned as programmable nanoscale platforms for sustainable biofabrication and semiconductor-related applications.
Using cryo-electron microscopy you will visualize whether the designed proteins assemble into the intended ordered 2D structures. A central part of the project will be to develop spectroscopic assays to follow assembly formation, probe stability, and detect interactions between protein components. These assays will be adapted for high-throughput screening, enabling many protein designs and assembly conditions to be evaluated efficiently.
You will also explore how non-native metal-binding groups can be introduced into proteins through genetic code expansion strategies to place metals in specific patterns on a protein scaffold. Together this will open opportunities to tune protein materials for interactions with inorganic and semiconductor components. By connecting molecular design with advanced imaging, spectroscopy, and screening, the project aims to create new routes toward sustainable nanotechnology. The PhD project is part of an interdisciplinary collaboration between de novo protein designers, biophysical chemists, biochemists and semiconductor physicists.
For additional information (including application requirements) and to apply, please see our website.
Application deadline: 2 July 2026
