Ph.D. position on the origins of biomolecular homochirality

Cornelia Meinert, Directrice de Recherche

Institut de Chimie de Nice (ICN), CNRS, Université Côte d’Azur

28 Avenue Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex, France

+33 4 92 07 61 36

+33 6 34 52 03 24

[email protected]

Objective

We seek to hire an outstanding researcher at the Ph.D. level to join our laboratory at the Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d’Azur. The successful candidate will be proposed and supported for a Ph.D. project on the emergence of homochiral biomolecules funded by a doctoral fellowship of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Abstract

What is responsible for the emergence of homochirality, the almost exclusive use of one enantiomer over its mirror image? And what led to the evolution of life’s homochiral biopolymers, DNA/RNA, proteins and lipids, where all the constituent monomers exhibit the same handedness?

Background

Recent work central to the proposed research: i) Chiroptical activity of hydroxycarboxylic acids:



implications for the origin of biological homochirality. Communications Chemistry 4 (2021); ii) Origin of alkylphosphonic acids in the interstellar medium. Science Advances 5 (2019); iii) Photon-energy-controlled symmetry breaking with circularly polarized light. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 53 (2014)

We Offer

- The possibility to be involved in a timely research project in an emerging field, using state-of-the-art equipment
- A stimulating, diverse and international research team & advanced training opportunities, embedded in a networked research environment

We Require

- Sc. (or equivalent) in chemistry, preferably specialized in analytical or physical chemistry.
- The ideal candidate will have a robust background in analytical chemistry, derivatization methods, as well as gas and/or liquid chromatographic techniques. Further experience in photochemistry is advantageous but not mandatory.

Starting date

Fall 2022; Duration of contract: 3 years

Deadline

February 28th, 2022

📌 PhD thesis position on the origins of biomolecular homochirality (Golden Horseshoe)
🏢 Astrobiology Introductory Course (RED) Rencontres Exobiologiques pour Doctorants
📍 Golden Horseshoe