Looking for a candidate for a PhD position

* Development of a structural biology toolkit for rapid prototyping of novel games *
Computational Biology & Visualization - Doctoral position at IBPC, Paris, France
http://tinyurl.com/UMolWiseGame

** Project description
Our lab has solid and internationally recognized expertise in computational
modeling of biological systems. This includes the development of tools for
interactive simulations and molecular visualization. We have started to port
these developments to the Unity3D game engine, with our UnityMol project.
Building up on this solid foundation, we now aim to expand on challenging
scientific discovery games, promising a strong and novel link between
citizens and research.
This project will extend our UnityMol application implemented with the Unity3D
game engine towards a platform for prototyping scientific discovery games
related to structural biology. As a validation of this development, we will
simultaneously create a serious game aimed at the human classification of
biological structures based on the visual analysis of a variety of properties
(topology, shape, electrostatic profile, lipophilicity, etc.). Several levels
of scientific applications are possible, e.g. small-scale to specific families
of molecules, large-scale to structural databases or even extending to models
of yet unsolved sequences. The aim is to deliver a prototype game for human
classification of proteins.
This work will be carried out in close collaboration with Monica Zoppe in Italy,
an internationally recognized expert in the field, developing the BioBlender
tool that we will use in preparing game assets.
Research Objectives:
¥ creation of a structural biology toolkit for scientific discovery games
¥ educational tool with intuitive learning about the molecular properties of
  proteins
In this project, several disciplines are united: structural biology and molecular
modeling form the basis for the content of the game, computer science is required
to build state-of-art molecular visualizations and handle the technical challenges
imposed by a game engine programming environment. Perceptual and cognitive issues
- a domain of expertise of our international partner - are also important to convey
the properties of molecules, an entity that lay people have never before encountered.

This project has applied for a european funding (Marie Curie FP7 ITN IDP 2012)
within the "Wiser Games" Innovative Doctoral Program of the FdV School.

** About the host institute
The "Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique" was created in 1930 by the Foundation
Edmond de Rothschild. It is associated with the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique), a leading international scientific institution offering an exceptional
environment to scientists early in their carreer, with a dynamic international
exposure animated by regular seminars and meetings. The host laboratory participates
in Equipex and Labex excellence in science programs and is about to build a large
high-resolution display wall that will boost the proposed project.

** Closing date: 10 April 2012
Interested candidates should send a CV and a statement of research interests, including
the names of three referees with contact information, as PDF document to baaden@ibpc.fr
or Antoine.Taly@ibpc.fr.