The Warshel Center for Multiscale Simuations is located in the campus of the University of Southern California, with offices and lab in the Seeley G. Mudd building. The Center facilitates research in bioinformatics and computer-aided simulations for effective enzyme and drug design. Our research group offers four types of opportunities; Research Associate (postdocs; 1st and 2nd postdoc), Research Assistant (MSc or Phd candidates), REU Undergraduate Summer Internships, and hosted Fellowships.

We hope that you find the information provided below useful. In the event that a postdoc position becomes available, we will provide a link to the USC applicaion portal. This information is offered as a general overview, and may change depending on the research involved.

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Labratory Assignments

Postdocs

The Postdoc will conduct and coordinate important computational and analytical theoretical research on several frontiers of molecular biophysics, under the supervision of Nobel laureate Arieh Warshel, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at USC Dornsife College of Arts and Sciences.

Possible Research Projects:

1. Simulations of enzymatic reaction, using QM/MM methods with efficient sampling strategies (e.g. using reference potentials, with the aim of helping to unravel the physical principles and underlying mechanisms, as well as to elucidate the action of new systems. This project will involve both medically relevant systems and enzyme design efforts.
2. Studies of proton transport, electron transport and ion transport in biological systems.
3. Multiscale coarse-grained modeling of molecular motors and other complex biological systems.

The candidate will be required to carryout computational and analytical theoretical research in several frontiers of molecular biophysics including: simulations of enzymatic reaction, using QM/MM methods with efficient sampling strategies with the aim of helping to unravel the physical principals and underlying mechanisms, as well as to elucidate the action of new systems. Projects will involve medically relevant systems and enzyme design efforts.

Skills Required:

1. Demonstrated expertise/results in the field of computer aided enzyme design.
2. Demonstrated expertise/results using EVB simulations in enzyme design.
3. Demonstrated expertise/results utilizing computer software in scientific project development and modeling of proteins and protein electrostatics.
4. Demonstrated expertise/results in intermolecular interactions, in particular electrostatic interactions.

Preferred applicants should hold a PhD in biophysics, physical chemistry, physics or chemical engineering. Theoretical and computational skills are useful, as is experience in molecular simulations, statistical mechanics and free energy calculations. However, documented motivation and strong learning ability may compensate for some deficiencies in the above background.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter to colopy@usc.edu

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Research Assistant (MSc/PhD Candidates)

Dr. Warshel is no longer accepting MSc or PhD students.

If you are interested in USC Chemistry graduate or doctoral program, please read about the requirements at the Department of Chemistry website. Prospective USC graduate or doctoral students can apply to Chemistry graduate program. Current USC graduate students, please send an email to the Graduate Advisor@usc.edu, to set up a meeting to discuss your interests.