GRK 2900:  nanomaterials@biomembranes: Rationally designed surface architectures for nanoscale interrogation and manipulation of biomolecules at membranes

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine ; Chemical Solid State and Surface Research
• Term: since 2024
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 501879556

Numerous important biological processes have evolved in the context of lipid membranes. The functional organization of proteins at membranes are therefore regulated by the specific lipid and protein compositions that determine membrane properties. However, the high dynamics of lipids and proteins in conjunction with the heterogeneity of membranes at nano- and mesoscale has so far limited precise mechanistic insights. Our initiative proposes an interdisciplinary research training programme with the aim to design novel, nanomaterial-based devices for quantifying and correlating molecular interactions and conformational organization of proteins at membranes with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Under the supervision of experts in nanomaterials’ chemistry and physics and biologists from membrane cell biology and biophysics, the doctoral students will rationally design nanomaterial properties and their integration into biologically relevant membrane architectures. Particular focus will be on energy-converting nanomaterials to achieve optical interrogation and manipulation with nanoscale confinement, as well as ultrathin macroporous substrates and conductive carbon nanomaterials for multimodal, correlative interrogation by photons and electrons. PhD projects will be organized into collaborative project clusters, each of will include nanomaterial design and characterization for rational development of novel devices, interfacing with representative membrane model systems and biophysical application. These approaches will be designed to address key challenges in membrane biology, namely (i) lipid dynamics at signaling complexes in the plasma membrane (ii) membrane damage sensing and repair, (iii) transport across self-assembled membrane pores as well as (iv) vesicle tethering and fusion. The research building “Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics” (CellNanOs) will provide an ideal working environment for successfully implementing the highly interdisciplinary projects. Suitably qualified doctoral students for the RTG will be available through our international master programme “Nanosciences: Materials, Molecules & Cells” at the interfaces of biology, chemistry in physics. Rapid onboarding and research success of the doctoral students will be achieved by a tailored qualification program that takes into consideration their specific needs within different phases of their dissertation. This will include (i) initial method training and introduction into research approaches to efficiently kick-off projects during the early phase; (ii) cross-sectional expert meetings for focused exchange on specific subtopics as well as seminars and yearly with renowned external speakers, and (iii) seminars on hybrid thinking to ignite creativity across disciplines.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Osnabrück
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Jacob Piehler
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Katia Cosentino; Professor Dr. Markus Haase; Professor Dr. Andreas Hennig; Professor Dr. Joost Holthuis; Professor Dr. Mirco Imlau; Dr. Carola Meyer; Professor Dr. Arne Möller; Professor Dr. Martin Steinhart; Professor Dr. Christian Ungermann; Dr. Laura Vittadello, Ph.D.; Dr. Changjiang You