Professorship (W1) with W3 tenure track Protein Design

The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at TU Dortmund University is offering the following position (starting at the earliest possible date): Professorship (W1) with W3 tenure track Protein Design

Our profileComprising 17 departments in the natural and engineering sciences as well as the humanities and social sciences, TU Dortmund University is a dynamic university with a strong profile in research, teaching, promotion of young scientists and transfer.

The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology has a strong and longstanding research profile at the interface between chemistry and biology and is a central part of a closely connected network of local research institutions characterized by an open and cooperative scientific culture. This network includes the Dortmund Life Science Center (DOLCE), the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, the Department of Statistics, the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, the BioMedical Center (BMZ), as well as the Leibniz Institutes for Analytical Sciences (ISAS) and for Occupational Research (IfADo). The University Alliance Ruhr and several major biomedical research initiatives—such as the research center "One Health Ruhr—from Molecule to System"—and research infrastructures—such as the Center for Advanced Liquid Phase Engineering Dortmund (CALEDO) and the TU Dortmund Center for Data Science and Simulation—further integrate the department into the regional scientific landscape. The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology is also seeking to fill the position of a tenure track professorship for "Optochemical Biology”. Profile of the professorshipYou will conduct research and teaching in the field of chemical biology, biochemistry, bioorganic chemistry or synthetic biology. Ideally, you are engaged in the de novo design of proteins with novel topologies and functions by expansion of the limited chemical repertoire of biological systems. Approaches may involve AI-driven structure engineering, genetic code expansion and post-translational introduction of chemical modifications. Exemplary research areas cover chemically modified enzymes with tailored reactivity, assembly of functional multi-protein architectures, bio-hybrid systems to control cellular functions or complex systems comprising engineered protein components. You show commitment to participate in research networks and cooperations within and outside TU Dortmund University, especially in CRC initiatives of the department. You are willing to acquire third-party funds, are committed to promoting early career researchers and participate appropriately in the teaching activities of the department.

The appointment is initially for a period of three years as a temporary civil servant. In the course of the third year, this status will be reviewed and may be extended for a further three years depending on performance. At the end of this six-year assistant professorship at the latest, the tenure track will lead to continued employment as a tenured W3 professor, provided that the necessary aptitude, competence and academic performance have been demonstrated and that the legal requirements pertaining to Section 38 of the North Rhine-Westphalia Higher Education Act (Gesetz über die Hochschulen des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, HG NRW) are met. The teaching load of the assistant professorship is four hours per week in each of the first three years. In the case of a positive review, it will increase to five hours per week in each of the last three years. Your qualificationsYou will have obtained a doctorate with above-average success and already demonstrate initial experience in the dissemination of your research in the field of protein design using an experimental approach through international publications in recognized peer-reviewed journals. Experience in obtaining competitively awarded external funding is welcome. Additionally, you will have the potential for teaching ex