PhD candidate in biochemistry, molecular Biology or microbiology
The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is one of the Faculty of Science’s largest institutes. Its approximately 240 scientists and staff members work in 16 research groups that perform excellent research centred on three themes:
- Cell & Sytems Biology;
- Neurosciences, and
- Molecular Life Sciences.
Research group Bacterial Cell Biology and Physiology investigates morphogenesis of bacteria and validates new antibiotic targets. In this context we are seeking for two ESR PhD positions and this vacancy describes the ESR6 position.
Train2Target is a multidisciplinary European Training Network funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action. Eleven research groups from academia and private sector have come together to address the challenge of the discovery of innovative antimicrobials. An integrated multidisciplinary approach towards a new generation of antibiotics: Targeting function and cross-talk of bacterial envelope protein machineries.
Description
Infectious diseases are still among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. The most relevant factor accounting for the high incidence of infectious diseases is the increase and spread of multi drug resistant (MDR) strains, which is leaving clinicians with very limited options to treat infections especially those from Gram-negative pathogens.
The bacterial cell envelope is still one of the best targets for antimicrobial discovery. Train2Target is an interdisciplinary project aiming at dissecting the biogenesis of the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria, in particular peptidoglycan biosynthesis and outer membrane assembly. The assembly of these structures is carried out by sophisticated molecular machines that function outside the cell and that need to be temporally and spatially orchestrated to ensure proper cell growth and division. The Train2Target project aims at dissecting at the molecular level the function and coordination of core envelope machineries: to this end interdisciplinary approaches based on an array of genetic, biochemical, biophysical and structural biology techniques will be used. Innovative in vivo and in vitro assays will be also developed to find molecules that alter the function and/or misbalance the coordination of envelope machineries thus providing new drugs to be developed as innovative antibiotics.
The consortium consists of partners with excellent scientific qualifications in multiple disciplines. In total there are 15 open early stage researcher (ESR) positions within Train2Target, of which 2 are at Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences of the University of Amsterdam. During the appointment secondments will be performed at the premises of other partners to ensure multidisciplinary training and close collaborations.
You will be working on the ESR6 part of the project. For the ERS6 (Assembly and dynamics of the LPS transport Lpt machinery and coordination with peptidoglycan (PG) synthetic machineries ) position a PHD candidate will be recruited to determine whether Lpt is a permanent or a dynamic complex:
- analysis of the periplasmic interactome of the Lpt complex
- check dependency on substrate for Lpt assembly.
He/she will be tasked with:
- assessing whether the Lpt complex and the PG synthetic machineries are able to monitor each other functioning;
- developing an in vivo screening assay that reports on the block of LPS assembly pathway.
Requirements
- Master in biochemistry, molecular Biology, microbiology or another master that provides sufficient background to bring the project to a successful end;
- experienced in cloning and experience with bacteria/ microbiology is a requirement;
- experienced in microscopy, in spectroscopy, in enzymology, in FRET, in mathematics or systems biology is an advantage;
- Proof of English proficiency as communication and teaching language.
Applicants for the PhD positions must not yet be awarded a PhD degree and must be in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers prior to the recruitment.
All applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the organization they are applying to for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment.
Further information
- Dr. Tanneke den Blaauwen
T: +31 (0)6 31978136 (in the office) or
T: +31 (0)6 44888461
Appointment
The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 4 years (initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it can be extended for a total duration of 4 years) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. The PhD student is also expected to assist in teaching of undergraduates.
Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €2191 in the first year to €2801 in the last year. The Collective Employment Agreement (CAO) for Dutch Universities is applicable.
Planned starting date is 1 April 2017.
Planned secondments:
- Partner: UNIMI, Milan, IT; Length: 3 months;
- Partner: UNEW, Newcastle, UK; Length: 2 months;
- Partner: Basilea, Basel, CH; Length: 2 months.
Application
Due to limitations in recruitment budget we will only consider candidates that are currently in Europe. Please do not respond if you are not in this continent.
Applications may only be submitted by electronic mail and should be sent to: application-science@uva.nl. To enable us to process your application immediately, please quote vacancy number 16-621 and the position you are applying for in the subject-line.
Applications must include a curriculum vitae and a letter of motivation. Please combine these documents in one single attachment and also mention the months (not just years) in your CV when referring to your education and work experience.
Applications will be accepted until 15 February 2017.
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.uva.nl/en/research/phd/phd-vacancies/item/16-621--phd-candidate-in-biochemistry-molecular-biology-or-microbiology.html?page=1&pageSize=50