Offene Themen für Masterarbeiten / Topics for your master thesis

Fakultät für Chemie / Universität Wien:

• Non-Enzymatic Protein Modifications in Neurodegeneration

  Aging populations and a persistent lack of effective treatments make neurodegenerative diseases one of the most urgent global health problems. A common hallmark of these disorders is the pathological aggregation of proteins. However, the molecular triggers initiating this process during aging remain poorly understood. Among the emerging contributors are non-enzymatic posttranslational modifications (nPTMs), which are increasingly implicated in the onset and progression of neurodegeneration, though their exact roles remain elusive.
  
  In this project we will investigate the impact of nPTMs on α-synuclein (αSyn), a central protein in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies. Via semi-synthesis of αSyn variants bearing site-specific nPTMs we will evaluate their impact on functional changes, protein aggregation, and toxicity.
  
  Group: Becker lab (Institute of Biological Chemistry)
  Start: Winter semester 2026
  Contact: tim.baldensperger@univie.ac.at 

• Advancing Strategies to Combat Lipofuscin Toxicity

  Lipofuscin is an oxidatively cross-linked aggregate of proteins, lipids, and metal ions that progressively accumulates in the body during ageing. It is strongly associated with cell death and diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and neurodegeneration. 
  
  This project aims to comprehensively identify potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of lipofuscin in a neuronal cell model. Various approaches to prevent cellular uptake and neurotoxicity will be evaluated using flow cytometry, proteomics, Western blotting, and cell assays.
  
  Group: Becker lab (Institute of Biological Chemistry)
  Start: Winter semester 2025
  Contact: tim.baldensperger@univie.ac.at

• Artificial Peptide Nanovesicles for Blood-Brain Barrier Drug Delivery

  The blood-brain barrier serves as a crucial protective barrier for the brain, safeguarding it from harmful substances while facilitating the passage of essential nutrients. However, this protective function also poses a significant challenge for drug delivery, as approximately 98% of therapeutic drugs cannot pass this barrier. This limitation has profound implications for the treatment of central nervous system pathologies, including brain tumors, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
  
  This research project aims to establish a cell culture model of the blood-brain barrier and screen peptide-modified nanovesicles for their ability to transport drugs into the central nervous system.
  
  Group: Becker lab (Institute of Biological Chemistry)
  Start: Sommer semester 2026
  Contact: tim.baldensperger@univie.ac.at

Offene Stellen für Doktoratsstudierende / Open positions for doctoral candidates

Fakultät für Chemie, Universität Wien: Offene Stellen (univie.ac.at)

DoSChem - Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry