At the Structural Biology Brussels laboratory (Vrije Universiteit Brussel / VIB), we are looking for two highly motivated PhD students or junior post-docs interested in biochemical and structural studies on enzymes involved in RNA biology or neuron biology.
VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) is an interdisciplinary non-profit research institute based at 4 Flemish universities and employs a vibrant community of over 1000 life scientists. The Structural Biology Brussels lab focuses on the functioning of proteins in all its aspects. Our multidisciplinary team of about 70 researchers is housed in new laboratory facilities and combines extensive expertise in structural biology (X-ray crystallography, NMR, SAXS, EM and atomic force microscopy), biophysics, enzymology and molecular biology. Project 1: Epilepsy is a very common neurologic disorder for which currently available drugs are highly inefficient and unspecific. In collaboration with the group of Prof. P. Verstreken (Laboratory for Neuronal Communication, KULeuven), we are investigating novel pathways leading to neurologic disorders in general and epilepsy in particular. The current project involves the detailed structural and functional characterization of enzymes and regulatory proteins involved in these epilepsy pathways, using an approach of X-ray crystallography, enzyme kinetics and different biophysical methods. In combination with in vivo studies, this research will contribute not only to a detailed molecular mechanism on the involved proteins, but it will also pave the way to establishing a novel in vivo epilepsy model. Project 2: tRNA molecules are transcribed as precursors that need to be extensively processed and chemically modified before they can be used in translation. Many bases in tRNA undergo post-transcriptional modification to increase the stability, to modify cognate codon recognition and to affect aminoacylation properties. Often these post-transcriptional modifications are critical for proper tRNA functioning. During your PhD you will be studying tRNA-modifying enzyme complexes and their interaction with tRNA substrates, using an integrated approach of X-ray crystallography, enzyme kinetics and different biophysical methods. For more information see www.verseeslab.structuralbiology.be Profile: Candidates should have a recent Master degree or PhD in Biochemistry, Bio-engineering, Biology, Chemistry or related. Skills in either molecular biology or protein chemistry & purification or protein crystallography would be an asset. Please send applications (including CV, research experience, and at least two names and contact information for references) to wim.vers...@vib-vub.be With best regards, Wim ------------------------------------------------------------------ Wim Versées, PhD Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel VIB Department of Structural Biology Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium e-mail: wim.vers...@vib-vub.be www.verseeslab.structuralbiology.be ------------------------------------------------------------------
