• USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience — 3D Rendering (Credit: USC/HOK Architects)

  • The Warshel Center for Multiscale Simulations is located on the campus of the University of Southern California, with offices and laboratories in the Seeley G. Mudd Building. The Center supports research in bioinformatics and computer-aided simulations, with a focus on enzyme function and drug design.

    Our research group offers four types of positions: Research Associate roles (postdoctoral fellows) and Research Assistant roles for MSc and PhD candidates.

    We hope you find the information below helpful. If a postdoctoral position becomes available, a link to the USC application portal will be provided. Please note that this overview is general and may change depending on the specific research projects involved.


    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


    Research Assistant (MSc/PhD Candidates)

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

    • USC Seeley G Mudd Building (Credit: USC/Department of Chemistry)
USC Dornsife University of Southern California