Applications
are invited for the position of Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical
Engineering at BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa for DST-SERB sponsored research project titled “Determination of the protein folding,
unfolding and refolding of spike glycoprotein of SARS Corona Virus-2 in Rubik’s
Cube based statistical model and study of the thermodynamic interaction and
kinetic behavior of the various equilibrated conformations with receptor of
angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2)” DST-SERB-POWER (FILENO.
SPG/2021/004541).
Objectives
of the Project:
(i) Develop a Rubik’s Cube Model (RCM) based simulation technique to
understand the folding, unfolding and refolding kinetics and various protein
folding pathways of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV2)
spike glycoprotein. (ii) Study of protein-folding dynamics of spike
glycoprotein with statistical energy landscape theory (SELT) based stochastic
model. (iii) Compare the similarity and dissimilarity between SELT and RCM
model in details to understand the formation of various types of spike
glycoprotein conformations and the efficiency of the Rubik’s Cube model. (iv) Calculation of the mean first-passage
time (MFPT) using both SELT and RCM model at different temperature. (v) Understand
the thermodynamics of molecular interaction between spike glycoprotein and the
newly obtained equilibrated folded-unfolded-refolded conformations with
receptor of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) using Grand Canonical Monte
Carlo (GCMC) Simulation and calculation of the binding energy.
Principal
Investigator: Dr. Paramita Haldar
Broad
area of Research: Molecular Modeling in Chemical Engineering
Duration of the project: 3 Years
Fellowship Amount (Rs.): Rs. 31,000 (1st Year and 2nd
Year) and Rs. 35,000 (3rd Year)
Accommodation: Hostel accommodation will be
provided subject to availability and will be governed by the rules and
regulations of the Institute prevailing at the time of joining of the
candidate.
Qualification (Compulsory): Post Graduate Degree in Basic Science (Physics or
Chemistry) OR Post Graduate in Degree in Chemical Engineering selected through
a process described through any one of the following:-
- Scholars
who are selected through National Eligibility Tests- CSIR –UGC NET
including lectureship (Assistant Professorship) and GATE. Without Net/GATE score applications
will not be considered.
- The
Selection process through National level examinations conducted by central Government departments and their agencies and Institutions such
as DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, MHRD, ICAR, IIT, IISc, IISER etc.
Qualification (Desired): Knowledge of programming (Matlab/Fortran/Python) and
Molecular Dynamics How to Apply: Interested candidates may send current curriculum
vitae with details of research experience to the principal investigator (email:
paramitah@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in
OR paramita.haldar82@gmail.com) by 30th
September, 2022. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted via e-mail
for online/Personal interview to be held at BITS Pilani, Goa Campus and no
TA/DA will be paid for the Interview.
Selected candidate may get a chance to apply
for PhD degree at BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus (Rules of PhD program for
BITS Pilani are applicable)
- Opportunities for Under-graduate student or Graduate student
Interested students having a background of computer programming or statistical thermodynamics or molecular modeling can email me paramitah@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in.