Research Fellow in Structural Biology (CryoEM)

University of Leeds; Leeds; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday + 16 bank holidays

Generous pension scheme options

On-site childcare, shopping discounts,

Job summary

University of Leeds seeks an outstanding Research Fellow to join an interdisciplinary team investigating how amyloid fibrils form and affect neuronal function. The post focuses on cryoEM studies, complemented by biochemical and biophysical analyses, to map fibril structures and their biological impact.

The successful candidate will work with Profs. Sheena Radford and Neil Ranson on collaborations and will contribute to understanding disease-relevant mutations and modifications, in a 18-month

Qualifications

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry or related field (or close to completion) with strong background in cryoEM.
• Experience applying cryoEM to problems in protein structure, assembly, and cellular mechanisms.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and collaborate across institutions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cryoEM and complementary biochemical/biophysical analyses to characterize amyloid fibrils formed in vitro and from patient samples.
• Investigate how different fibril structures perturb neuronal function and relate to disease-related mutations/modifications.
• Collaborate with Profs. Radford and Ranson and external partners on project milestones.

Skills

CryoEM techniques

Structural biology

Biochemistry

Education

PhD in Structural Biology/Biochemistry or related (or near completion)

Tools

CryoEM hardware

Protein structure analysis

Job description

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Contract type: Fixed term (Available for 18 months. To complete specific time limited work)

Downloads: Candidate Brief (PDF)

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in cryoEM and want to help to develop new routes to combat amyloid diseases? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

We are looking for an outstanding research fellow to join our interdisciplinary team that is investigating how proteins aggregate into amyloid fibrils, and how fibrils with different structure perturb cellular function. This BIRAX-funded role is to use cryoEM, supported with other biochemical and biophysical analyses, to understand the structure of amyloid fibrils formed in vitro and purified from patient samples and to determine the activity of different fibril types in causing neuronal dysfunction. This will help to reveal the mechanisms by which disease-relevant mutations and post-translational modifications effect changes in amyloid aggregate formation and the consequences of aggregation on cellular function.

You will be based in the laboratories of Professors Sheena Radford and Neil Ranson, and work closely with other members of our amyloid team. The work will be carried out in collaboration with Professor Raz Jelinek (Ben Gurion University) who has recently shown an activity of amyloid fibrils in the degradation of neurotransmitters. You should have a PhD (or be close to completing one) in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline, and extensive experience of using cryoEM to solve questions about protein structure, assembly and biological mechanisms.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) - That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

Contact information

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Sheena Radford, Astbury Professor of Biophysics
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Professor Neil A Ranson, Professor of Structural Molecular Biology
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

£41,064 to £48,822 per annum