Postdoctoral Positions, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany (2017)

The successful candidates will work in the group of Prof Teresa Carlomagno (NMR-based Structural Chemistry, http://www.carlomagno-group.org). The group combines a wide range of structural biology techniques — including solution- and solid-state NMR, X-ray crystallography, EPR, small-angle scattering and mass-spectrometry — to investigate the structures of large and dynamic biomolecular complexes, with particular emphasis on the RNA–protein complexes involved in RNA metabolism and enzymatically active protein–protein complexes. We are seeking three talented post-doctoral scientists to work on research projects that include:

- Investigation of the structure and activity of protein complexes involved in the regulation of gene expression.

- Structural characterization of the enzyme complexes that synthesize bioactive natural products in micro-organisms (non-ribosomal peptide synthetases).

- Development of novel solid-state NMR methods to study RNA–protein complexes and their application to the specific complexes that catalyze chemical modifications of ribosomal RNA.

The post-doctoral scientists will be involved in all stages of research, including sample preparation, biophysical characterization of in vitro-assembled complexes (for example by ITC, analytical ultracentrifugation and light-scattering techniques), development and application of NMR experiments, structure determination and computational modelling.

Environment

The Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ) is a young and vibrant research centre (founded 2014) within the Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) that hosts a range of research groups in chemistry and biology. Its mission is to develop interdisciplinary approaches to basic and applied drug research by fostering collaborations between researchers both within the University and from clinical- and application-oriented partner institutions. It has close links with Hannover Medical School and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, as well the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig. The Carlomagno group has access to laboratory space and state-of-the-art instrumentation both at the BMWZ and the HZI. The NMR laboratory at the BMWZ comprises an 850-MHz Bruker AVIII HD spectrometer equipped with solution-state HCN He-cooled probe and a 600-MHz NMR Bruker AVIII HD spectrometer equipped with solution-state HCN N2-cooled and HPCN room-temperature probes and a solid-state HCN MAS probe. The BMWZ also offers fully equipped laboratories for molecular biology, cell biology and biophysical measurements. In addition, the group has exclusive access to a 600-MHz Bruker AVIII spectrometer at the HZI, equipped with solution-state HCN He-cooled and solid-state HCN MAS probes. High-field and proton-detected solid-state NMR experiments are recorded at European facilities and in collaboration with national and international partners. The group also has access to the crystallization facilities at the HZI.

Profile
The successful candidates will have Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in molecular biology/biochemistry/biotechnology/physics or a related field, as well as experience in biomolecular NMR spectroscopy and a good publication record. Strong organizational and communication skills, the ability to work in an international environment, and a deep interest and enthusiasm for fundamental research are essential.

Further details:
http://academicpositions.eu