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Postdoctoral Positions @Akbey Lab - Structural Biology Department, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA - umitakbey@pitt.edu
Structures and Molecular Mechanisms of Biofilm Forming Functional Amyloids by Cryo-EM and Solid-state NMR:
The aim of Akbey Lab is to study functional amyloid fibrils involved in bacterial biofilm forming. We use Cryo-EM and combine it with modern NMR methods to push the limits of the state of the art and apply these methods to understand molecular details and mechanisms of functional amyloids. This allows studies of difficult insoluble proteins not only in-vitro but also in their complex in-vivo (or ex-vivo) environment.
Profile of the candidates:
They are looking for scientists who have background in Cryo-EM, as well as in biophysics, biochemistry, microbiology, and recombinant protein production/characterization. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, CV and contact information of two scientists for recommendation letters to Dr. Ümit Akbey - umitakbey@pitt.edu. More information on projects can be acquired per email and please don’t hesitate to contact. Employment will be for one year that can be extended up to several years. Career development options and support will be provided for the candidates. The starting date is as soon as possible.
Research Infrastructure:
The Akbey Lab is funded via a startup package. We utilize a state-of-the-art Cryo-EM and NMR facility within the department. We have full access to two dedicated modern solid state NMR instruments, 600 WB and 750 WB. A variety of conventional and fast MAS probes are available, including two unique low-temperature capable 1.3mm and 3.2mm MAS NMR probes. We have access to the NMR facility in the Structural Biology Department comprising state-of-the-art solution NMR instrumentation, including 900, 800, 700 and 2x600 MHz and several faculty with an emphasis in NMR are members of the department. The Akbey Lab is fully equipped for recombinant protein production and characterization, with a large wet lab space and space for data analysis. We have access to higher field ssNMR systems, ultra-fast MAS (0.7mm) and DNP via National & EU consortia. In addition, excellent x-ray crystallography, Cryo-EM (Titan Krios, T12 & TF20), Cryo-Tomography, high-performance computation resources are available in the Department of Structural Biology. We collaborate with faculty who are experts in these structural biology methodologies. Graduate students are part of the Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Program.
University of Pittsburgh and the City of Pittsburgh:
University of Pittsburgh is ranked #14 in best Medical Schools in Research in USA. The University of Pittsburgh Medical School is considered a top tier medical school with a focus in research ranking in the Top 10 recipients of NIH funding. The MBSB Graduate Program consists of more than 40 PIs and collects excellent scientists, research areas and a great environment for a scientist to be and develop. Pittsburgh has repeatedly been ranked among the nation's most livable cities. It's truly diverse and friendly place where higher education is valued and thriving, thanks to many great universities. It has a warm, friendly culture with so much history. A beautiful downtown, lively neighborhoods, a great art and music scene, and an influx of young professionals has made it a fantastic place to live. Despite all it offers, Pittsburgh is still a very affordable and easy to live city (~50% less compared to New York or California!). University provides comprehensive health insurance and other resources to its coworkers.
City of Bridges: Pittsburgh's 440-plus bridges (more than even Venice can boast) span three major rivers and countless streams, creeks, valleys, and ravines. Pittsburgh airport makes it super easy to be connected to any large city in the States and World.
Selected publications related to these positions:
- Chang-Hyeock Byeon and Ümit Akbey. (2023) Solution-state NMR Assignment and Secondary Structure Analysis of the Monomeric Pseudomonas Biofilm-Forming Functional Amyloid Accessory Protein FapA. Biorxiv.
- Chang-Hyeock Byeon, Kasper Holst Hansen, Jasper Jeffrey, Maria Andreasen, Ümit Akbey. (2023) Initial Steps of Chaperone-Aided Fibrillation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Forming Functional Amyloid FapC. Biorxiv.
- Chang-Hyeock Byeon, Pang C. Wang, In-Ja L. Byeon, Ümit Akbey (2023) Solution-state NMR assignment and secondary structure propensity of the full length and minimalistic-truncated prefibrillar monomeric form of biofilm forming functional amyloid FapC from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biomolecular NMR Assignment.
- Ümit Akbey and Maria Andreasen (2022) Functional amyloids from bacterial biofilms – structural properties and interaction partners. Chemical Science: 13, 6457-6477
- Nelson Ferreira, Emil Gregersen, Zachary A. Sorrentino, Hjalte Gram, Cristine Betzer, Clara Perez-Gozalbo, Marjo Beltoja, Madhu Nagaraj, Jie Wang, Jan S. Nowak, Mingdong Dong, Daniel Otzen, Ümit Akbey, Sissel Schmidt, Morten Meyer, Marina Romero-Ramos, Benoit Giasson, Poul H. Jensen (2021) Multiple system atrophy-associated oligodendroglial protein p25 alpha stimulates formation of novel alpha-synuclein strain with enhanced neurodegenerative potential. Acta Neuropathologica 142, 1, 87-115
- Madhu Nagaraj; Mumdooh Ahmed; Jeppe Lyngso; Brian S. Vad; Andreas Bogglid; Anne Filipsen; Jan Skov Pederson; Daniel Otzen, Ümit Akbey (2020) Predicted Loop Regions Promote Aggregation: A Study of Amyloidogenic Domains in the Functional Amyloid FapC. JMB 432, 7, 2232-2252
- Anne Diehl, Yvette Roske, Linda Ball, Anup Chowdhury, Mattias Hiller, Noel Moliere, Regina Kramer, Daniel Stöppler, Catherine L. Worth, Brigitte Schlegel, Martina Leidert, Nils Cremer, Natalja Erdmann, Daniel Lopez, Heike Stephanowitz, Eberhard Krause, Barth-Jan van Rossum, Peter Schmieder, Udo Heinemann, Kürşad Turgay, Ümit Akbey, Hartmut Oschkinat (2018) Structural changes of TasA in biofilm formation of Bacillus. PNAS 27, 115 (13), 3237-3242
- Ümit Akbey and Hartmut Oschkinat (2016) Structural Biology Applications of Solid State MAS DNP NMR. JMR 269, 213-224
