Computational Biophysics & Structural Biology

WE ARE HIRING !!! VISIT THE OPPORTUNITIES PAGE (POST-DOC POSITIONS AVAILABLE)

Biophysics is a field of study that aims to understand biological phenomena using the principles and tools of physics. Every living organism must be following the laws of physics; however, due to their complexity, our understanding of biological systems is still limited.

Our research group focuses on the studies of biological molecules such as proteins and nucleotides. Biological complexes, structured ensembles of proteins and nucleic acids, perform many vital cellular functions, and dysfunctions of those result in severe diseases. In order to understand diseases and develop treatments, the functional mechanisms of these biological complexes need to be elucidated. A crucial step in this process is the characterization of the structures and dynamics of these complexes.

The computational biophysics & structural biology lab is located within the Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science at Nagoya University. Our group is also a member of the interdisciplinary research institute, ITbM, which aims to design new molecules to control and help visualize of biological molecules with a focus on plant crops. Finally, we also have a research team within the RIKEN Center for Computational Science which has recently started operating Japan’s national flagship supercomputer Fugaku (the fastest computer in the world in 2020).

We are always looking for motivated Postdoctoral Researchers who can engage in the development of “integrative modeling techniques” or work in collaboration with experimental groups to study specific biological systems via MD simulations/ligand docking etc …. . Applications are welcome from any field, although proven skill in UNIX and programming languages for scientific computation is required. Experience with 2D image analysis in relation to X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, MD simulations, coarse-grained modeling, high-performance parallel computing, and machine learning is a great plus. Communication in English is required.  For more information on fellowships available for research in Japan visit the opportunities page and contact Florence Tama (florence.tama[AT]nagoya-u.jp or florence.tama[AT]riken.jp)