PhD Students

Characterizing the structure of macromolecular complexes is crucial for understanding their function. For many complexes, however, solving their structure using a single structural biology technique is very challenging. Integrative structural biology combines different experimental techniques with computational modeling to build structural models of such challenging complexes.

Application of integrative structural biology requires an in-depth understanding of both different experimental approaches and computational modeling. To provide advanced training in such a highly interdisciplinary skill set, this EMBO Practical Course will teach how to interpret data from major structural biology techniques and how to integrate this data using computational methods. The course location at the Hamburg Unit of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the Center for Structural Systems Biology on the DESY campus will provide on-site synchrotron SAXS and MX beamlines for training. Hands-on practicals will use a well-studied model system, for which data from all main structural biology techniques are available.

The fourth Course on Integrative Structural Biology, which will take place at the Institut Pasteur from july 8 to july 13, 2019

This course is supported by EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization). For more information see here
Problems in structural biology today can very often not be solved by one technique alone, but need to be solved by a combination of methods, including NMR, X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, structural mass spectrometry, and SAXS. The heterogeneous data coming from these methods need to be combined with advanced molecular modeling techniques. The goal of the course is to provide young scientists that have more specialized knowledge in one of the techniques an overview over the broad range of modern structural methods available. Special emphasis will be given to computational approaches to integrate data (such as IMP, ARIA).

The summer school is intended for researchers (primarily PhD and post-docs) using or planning to use biomolecular modeling and simulation in their everyday research. Familiarity with Linux and some basic knowledge of molecular modelling software is a requirement.

In recent years, one of the major challenges in the Environmental and Earth Science has been managing and searching ever larger volumes of data, collected across multiple disciplines. The ENVRIplus project investigated a collection of more than 20 representative environmental research infrastructures (RIs) from different areas. By examining these research infrastructures and their characteristics, a common data lifecycle was identified. The data lifecycle is structured in five phases: Data Acquisition, Data Curation, Data Publishing, Data Processing and Data Use. Many different standards, approaches, and tools have been developed to support the Data Lifecycle. In particular, modern semantic technologies provide a promising way to properly describe and interrelate different data sources in ways that reduce barriers to data discovery, integration, and exchange among biodiversity and ecosystem resources and researchers.

The course is built as a five-day summer school providing a unique insight into the contemporary debate on Data Management in the environmental and earth sciences.  Leading scientists and experienced technical specialists will address this topic from different angles, attempting to gather what we consider the most interesting perspectives of our time. We offer a cutting edge and high-quality programme, aimed at fostering a rich and lively intellectual exchange.