The Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is the largest national research institute
in Switzerland and operates, among other large-scale facilities, the Swiss
Light Source (SLS), one of the most advanced synchrotron radiation sources
worldwide. The Macromolecular Crystallography (MX) group at the SLS
(http://www.psi.ch/macromolecular-crystallography/), operating two
high-performance undulator beamlines as well as a state-of-the-art superbend
magnet beamline, is involved in the development of advanced beamline
instrumentation and crystallographic methods, as well as structural biology
projects in collaboration with the Laboratory of Biomolecular Research at
PSI and external partners.
Global Phasing Ltd. (GPhL) is a UK company engaged in scientific research,
developments and software implementations aimed at and capable of bringing
about improvements in the current methods of MX as applied within the
contexts of structural biology and of structure-based drug discovery in the
pharmaceutical industry.
SLS and GPhL have entered into a Collaboration Agreement to carry out a
joint research project aimed at designing, validating and deploying new and
advanced capabilities in the collection and analysis of MX diffraction data
that will fully exploit the potential of the PRIGo multi-axis goniometer (in
use at SLS PXIII beamline) and of wavelength-interleaving techniques used in
combination with Pilatus-type single-photon counting detectors. In order to
extend their hitherto informal collaborative links, the two groups are
co-funding a position, for an initial period of two years, for a
Postdoctoral Fellow in Macromolecular Crystallography
Your tasks
Your work will be based at the SLS and will aim at improving current MX data
quality, with an emphasis on experimental MAD and SAD phasing but also
including the measurement of native data. You will be involved in the design
and validation of innovative integrated protocols comprising sophisticated
data collection schemes along with adapted processing methods, as well as in
their integration into the beamline user interfaces. You will apply those
protocols to challenging crystallographic projects via internal and external
collaborations. Your activities will include a measure of user support at
the SLS MX beamlines and regular visits to GPhL in the UK.
Your profile
You hold a Ph.D. degree in biology, chemistry or physics, and have
substantial experience in protein crystallography. Working knowledge of data
processing programs (especially XDS) and of phasing and refinement software
is a must. Experience in computer programming would be a significant
advantage. If you are a good team player with fine communication skills and
a strong sense of responsibility, this position will offer you a great
opportunity to develop your research career in a stimulating and highly
multi-disciplinary environment.
We are looking forward to receiving your application!
For further information please contact
Dr. Vincent Olieric, Tel. +41 56 310 52 33, e-mail [email protected]
or Dr. Gerard Bricogne, Tel. +44 1223 353033, e-mail [email protected]
This position is advertised on the PSI Web site at:
http://www.psi.ch/pa/offenestellen/0700-3
Please send your application to: Paul Scherrer Institut, Human Resources,
Mrs. Elke Baumann, ref. code 6112-04, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
