Open Post-doc positions in Structural Immunology with a focus on enhanced TCR recognition of MHC molecules at the Science for Life Laboratory (scilifelab.se<http://scilifelab.se/>) in Stockholm, Sweden.
The newly created SciLifeLab, which is a joint effort between four Swedish universities, including the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), the Karolinska Institute (KI), Stockholm University (SU) and Uppsala University (UU), serves as a Swedish national infrastructure to support infrastructure and technically advanced research in the life science area. The infrastructure at SciLifeLab includes state-of-the-art technologies for high-throughput molecular biosciences.
We are currently seeking for one or two highly motivated and multi-talented post-doctoral fellows to work on a collaborative project in the Achour laboratory within SciLifeLab. This is an ideal position for a post-doc who is looking to bolster experience and/or publication record for several years before moving to a faculty position.
The selected post-doctoral fellow(s) will focus on determining the three-dimensional structures of T cell receptors in complex with MHC class I or class II, presenting wild-type and altered versions of epitopes related to autoimmune and/or cancer diseases. The overall aim of the project is to establish and understand the mechanisms underlying enhanced TCR recognition of infected and/or cancer cells, as well as to provide a structural basis for the induction of autoimmune responses. All the structural studies will be performed in parallel with functional assays within the research groups of Prof. Lars Klareskog and Dr Vivianne Malmström (both at the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM, KI), as well as the research group of Dr Petter Brodin (SciLifeLab, KI).
A successful PhD in a relevant scientific discipline and proficiency in structural and molecular biology are required. The post-doc fellows will have a lot of autonomy, but are also expected to provide theoretical and technical assistance with overall laboratory computational and crystallographic projects. The candidates should have a strong will to work on challenging and significant protein complexes in a multidisciplinary setting. Main skill sets required are facility in cloning and protein production, practical aspects of protein crystallization, structure determination and computation. Familiarity with protein expression systems, cell culture, various biochemical and biophysical techniques to study protein-protein interactions are also highly desirable. The candidates are expected to be particularly interested into determining the three-dimensional structures of protein complexes, as well as assess biophysically their interactions using e.g. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) or microscale thermophoresis. A large panel of other biophysical technologies is also available within SciLifeLab.
The positions are initially offered for a period of two years (1+ 1year), but if successful, the post-doctoral fellows will also be offered a portfolio of their own projects in the areas of structure and/or protein engineering, as well as possibility to establish an own research group.
The applicants should send a CV, with a complete list of publications (only published manuscripts) as well as a letter in which they describe the basis of their interest in the proposed project. Three professional references should also be sent in which the scientific and social qualities of the candidate are described. All required information should be sent by e-mail to adnane.achour@ki.se<mailto:adnane.achour@ki.se>.
More information about the Achour group can be found in scilifelab.se<http://scilifelab.se/> as well as in cim/ki.se. The positions are available from the beginning of September 2013, and will remain open until filled. The initial appointment is for 1 year. Consideration of applications starts when this advertisement appears. This call closes on December 1th, 2013.
