Recreating RNA evolution on early Earth
Prof. Dieter Braun, LMU Systems Biophysics
Project: We will reconstruct the first cycles of Darwinian evolution in the laboratory by polymerizing and ligating RNA. Our bottom-up approach reconstructs the boundary conditions of the early Earth to assemble the first living molecules and drive sustained cycles of replication and selection. This will implement the first cycles of Darwinian evolution, starting from RNA nucleotides and amino acids. Conditions include temperature gradients, water-air interfaces, and self-assembly processes. We are a leading group in the field of prebiotic evolution and lead the Collaborative Research Center on Molecular Evolution under Prebiotic Conditions (www.molecular-evolution.de). We have a strong track record of high impact publications in Nature, Nature Physics, PNAS, Nature Chemistry, and JACS.
Requirements: An independent mind with practical skills and a broad background from physics, biophysics, physical chemistry, biochemistry and chemistry would be most desired.
Position/Salary: TV-L E13 75% - earliest entry date: 01.04.2025 (3 years with extension)