MeChaNiSM Doctoral Network

Prof. Gijs Wuite at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam applies quantitative physical tools to investigate fundamental problems in biology. He will host 1 PhD student to investigate novel fluorescent unnatural base pairs using optical tweezers and acoustic force spectroscopy. www.gijswuite.com

Jan Lipfert is a Professor at the University of Augsburg and an expert in nucleic acid structure and mechanics. He will host two students who will study the effects of ligand binding and base modification on nucleic mechanics and topology using single-molecule methods like magnetic tweezers.

The MeChaNiSM Doctoral Network students’ kick-off meeting (October 6-10) is starting today at the University of Cologne, Germany. It provides a great opportunity for students to catch up and network with others.

Felix Ritort is a Professor at the University of Barcelona, working on force spectroscopy of DNA and RNA. Within MeChaNiSM, he will host two students working on RNA folding and RNA-protein interactions, see felixritortlab.com

Stephanie Kath-Schorr is Professor at University of Cologne, expanding the functional repertoire of nucleic acids using organic synthesis and chemical biology. She will host 2 students working on the development of novel fluorescent unnatural base pairs and photoswitches. @kathlab.bsky.social

Enrico Carlon is a Professor at the KU Leuven, working on mechanics and statistical mechanics of DNA. Within MeChaNiSM he will host one student working on simulations and mechanical characterization of DNA kinks. bsky.app/profile/ecar...

Marcus Wilhelmsson is Professor at Chalmers University of Technology, working with nucleobase modifications, for example, for fluorescence labeling. He will host one student who develops novel nucleobase analogues that will facilitate single-molecule biophysics studies. @wilhelmssonlab.bsky.social

Andrew Kellett is a Professor at Dublin City University ‪@dublincityuni.bsky.social‬, working to develop nucleic acid-targeted therapies. Within MeChaNiSM, he will host 2 students working on artificial gene editing systems and Holliday junction recognition agents. ‪@akellett.bsky.social‬‬‬‬‬

Erwin Peterman is a professor at VU University Amsterdam and an expert on combining fluorescence with optical tweezers. He will host 1 student within MeChaNiSM, who will study novel fluorescently modified nucleic acids, including base analogs with these tools. www.nat.vu.nl/~erwinp

Jocelyne Vreede is a professor at University of Amsterdam, using molecular simulation to study nucleic acids in atomistic detail. She will host 2 students within MeChaNiSM to characterise how modified bases and small molecules affect nucleic acid structure and dynamics. @vreedecompchem.bsky.social

Fredrik Westerlund is a Professor at Chalmers University of Technology, working with single-molecule biophysics for nucleic acid analysis. Within MeChaNiSM he will host 2 students working on mechanical characterization of nucleic acids and nucleic acid-drug interactions. @westerlundlab.bsky.social

Over the coming weeks, we will introduce the academic PIs of the MeChaNiSM consortium one by one, please follow us for regular updates.

On 23-24 October 2024, the partners within the MSCA-funded doctoral network MeChaNiSM met with the scientific advisors Bengt Nordén, Mark Williams and Mattijs de Groot as well as with the innovation advisor Bo Norrman for the kick-off meeting that was held at Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden. We have discussed and planned for the different training activities and network events for the years to come. Fredrik Westerlund, Marcus Wihelmsson, Gijs Wuite, Erwin Peterman, Jocelyne Vreede, Jan Lipert, Andrew Kellett, Felix Ritort, Enrico Carlon, Stephanie Kath-Schorr, AstraZeneca, LUMICKS, National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, NanoTemper.