Computational Protein Design of Hybrid Nanopores for Biomolecular Sensing

Rapid and real-time sequencing of DNA and RNA with nanopores is a remarkable technology that found many uses in biotechnology, biomedicine and disease surveillance. Emerging nanopore based technologies aim to identify peptides, sequence proteins and polymers, and to detect metabolites and biomarkers using portable and widely accessible devices. This internship project addresses a key issue of the technology: the integration of the protein nanopore with electronic parts. Using computational protein design and protein biochemistry, we aim to design new proteins that better interface solid-state nanopore technologies. Such a “hybrid nanopore” concept would open the door to next generation DNA and protein sequencing approaches, as well as the development of novel wearable devices and point-of-care technologies for the real-time identification of molecules and biomarkers.

In this internship, the candidate will: (i) carry out the production, assemble and characterization of nanopore proteins in vitro (cryoEM); (ii) test the assembled protein nanopores in prototype solid-state nanopore chips (iii) apply state-of-the-art computational modelling tools to design new protein nanopores with the best possible fit to the solid-state pores, based on the experimental feedback collected in (i) and (ii).

This topic requires in-depth understanding of experiment and modeling. Diverse hands-on labwork (bio-chemistry, cleanroom, and electrical characterization labs) in addition to state-of-the-art molecular modeling research will be performed.

Imec is soliciting enthusiastic internship candidates to advance single-molecule electrical sensing technology, approaching the problem both from the experimental and modeling side.