Profile of the advisor
Prof. dr. ir. P.R. (Patrick) Onck received his PhD (cum laude) from Delft University of Technology, followed by a postdoc position at Harvard University. Since 2012 he is full professor in computational (bio)physics at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials of the University of Groningen. His research is curiosity-driven and aimed at unravelling the secrets of biology in health and disease. Onck has published over 150 scientific articles (H-index 43). The group operates its own computer cluster and has access to high-performance supercomputers in Groningen and Amsterdam.
Expertise
Molecular biophysics, molecular dynamics simulations, nuclear pore complex, self-replication.
Profile of the research group
The Onck group consists of seven PhD students, three master students, four bachelor students and a system administrator. The group employs multiscale modeling approaches using molecular dynamics and finite element modeling to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying biological processes and diseases. Primary focus is on the role of intrinsically disordered proteins in transport through the nuclear pore complex, droplet phase separation and self-assembly into ordered fibers in light of self-replication and neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. The group is very diverse with many nationalities and a range of academic backgrounds, featuring a lively and supportive atmosphere.
