Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellowship: Structural biology of RIG-I like helicases Job Number: 4010070 Date Posted: 10/10/2011 Application Deadline: 11/6/2011
Job Description
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the highest ranked scientific research organisations in the world. The Headquarters Laboratory is located in Heidelberg (Germany) and the outstations are in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy).
The group of Stephen Cusack at the EMBL Grenoble Outstation is seeking to recruit a motivated post-doctoral fellow to work on the structural biology of RIG-I like helicases. These cytoplasmic signalling proteins are pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system and are critical for the early detection of viral infections through recognition of non-self viral RNA molecular patterns, which triggers interferon production. The Cusack group has recently determined crystal structures of the auto-repressed and RNA/ATP activated states of RIG-I leading to the first structure-based model of the RIG-I activation mechanism. This work is in press in Cell. Future work will refine this model and extend structural work to the two other RIG-I like helicases, MDA5 and LGP2 and the downstream signalling partner MAVS. The EMBL Grenoble Outstation is embedded in the Grenoble Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB), which is a uniquely rich environment for structural biology providing access to state-of-the-art facilities for protein production, biophysical characterisation, crystallisation and structure determination (ESRF synchrotron, NMR, EM). Candidates should have a PhD and a record of successfully working on challenging structural biology problems. Experience in some of the following will be an advantage: protein expression in insect cells, in vitro production of RNA and reconstitution of protein-RNA complexes, synchrotron based protein crystallography. Candidates interested in biophysical mechanistic studies of RLHs in vitro or in living cells (e.g. by fluorescence techniques) are also encouraged to apply. Funding is available for an initial two year period with the possibility of staying up to five years.
EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation.
Contact: HR Officer HR Recruitment EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) Meyerhofstrasse 1 Heidelberg, 69117 Germany Employer’s Web Site: Visit employer’s website Online Application: Apply for this job from Employer’s website