Dear Colleagues, Description for a postdoctoral position in the lab of Andrew Lovering, University of Birmingham, UK; work following on from our recent publication in Plos Pathogens: http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1002524
Funded by the BBSRC and in collaboration with scientists at the University of Nottingham, an exciting project has been initiated to study how the unique predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus manipulates the cell wall of its bacterial prey. The overall aim of this research project is to determine high-resolution structures of peptidoglycan-modifying predatory proteins, agents secreted by Bdellovibrio as it "burrows" through the wall of prey and forms its growth niche in their periplasm. The ultimate goal is an understanding as to how this remarkable bacterium has evolved to penetrate and live within prey cells. This post is part of a major expansion of research into the structural biology of predatory bacteria, within the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at Birmingham. We seek to recruit a technically well versed and scientifically creative postdoctoral researcher to drive forward an ambitious programme of structural characterisation of Bdellovibrio proteins. The appointee will generate a series of expression clones, purify target proteins, undertake crystallographic studies and determine structures. Importantly, the appointee will instigate studies resulting from structural information (e.g. design of functionally-compromised mutants and relation to phenotype). Applicants should hold a PhD in structural biology or microbiology, and have extensive experience in protein purification. Experience in x-ray crystallography and/or molecular biology techniques would be a significant advantage. The successful candidate will join the group of Andrew Lovering (http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/staff/profile.aspx?ReferenceId=9660&Name=dr-andrew-lovering) and will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities to support the project, including crystallization robotics, a Rigaku Micromax-007 X-ray source (http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/x-ray/index.aspx) and a wide variety of additional techniques under the umbrella of the Birmingham Biophysical Characterisation Facility. To download the details and submit an electronic application online visit: www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs<http://www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs>
