Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in structural biology of membrane proteins? Are you interested in ion channels and mechanical sensing? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?
Applications are invited to conduct collaborative research investigating the structure and function of mechanosensitive ion channels. These systems form pores in the cell membrane and allow the passage of molecules in response to membrane tension.
A multi-disciplinary approach combining molecular/chemical (cloning, recombinant expression and purification), structural (CryoEM and PELDOR/DEER spectroscopy), functional (Electrophysiology) and computational (MD simulations) methods will be employed to investigate gating of these systems and characterise their unique states. CryoEM facilities in the Astbury Centre at University of Leeds are state-of-the-art, including 2 x Titan Krios 300keV electron microscopes. The project will also involve trips to the St Andrews and Manchester EPR facilities for PELDOR/DEER experiments.
We are seeking a highly motivated and talented individual interested in undertaking a challenging and exciting 3 year BBSRC-funded post in the laboratory of Dr Christos Pliotas. The project aims at obtaining and solving novel CryoEM structures of mechanosensitive ion channels in distinct conformational states. Dynamics will be interrogated by PELDOR/DEER and MD within lipid/native environment and function will be assessed by single molecule electrophysiology.
You should have a PhD (or close to completion) in Molecular/Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics or a closely allied discipline; with significant experience in expression, purification and structural biology of membrane proteins and ion channels.
To discover more and apply, please go to:
https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=FBSBM1119Closing date: 14th July 2019.
