Jobs in Structural Biology and Related Fields

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Rosalind Franklin Institute

Rosalind Franklin Institute, United Kingdom

Application deadline: 08 Oct 2023

The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate within the Structural Biology theme of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, you will use an integrative structural cell biological approach to dissect the molecular mechanisms responsible for cytoskeletal localisation and organisation in different regions of the neuron, from cell body to synapse. You will learn core tissue culture techniques as applied to cryoET and develop skills transitioning to the analysis of tissues.

Working with collaborators at UCL and the Mary Lyon Centre, you will develop methods for targeting specific neuronal features and characterize the structural and mechanistic changes of the cytoskeleton in stem cell or tissue-derived neurons. The successful candidate will establish a workflow to culture and prepare neuronal cells for integrative imaging using fluorescence microscopy, cryoFIB/SEM, cryoET and sub-volume averaging. Your work will shed light upon the molecular organisation of the cytoskeleton in different regions of the neuron and begin to highlight how these elements change in response to disease-specific mutations or in pathologically-relevant models of neurodegeneration.

You will gain expertise (and training) in electron cryo-tomography using cutting-edge microscopes developed at the Franklin. This post would be ideal for a candidate who has worked, or is willing to drive developments, in eukaryotic and stem cell culture methods and would like to develop skills in structural cell biology and electron cryo-tomography applied to complex systems.

This post is open for 3 years in the research group of Michael Grange. Informal enquiries may be directed to michael.grange@rfi.ac.uk.

Responsibilities

You will:

• Embrace the primary project associated with this role, involving cell culture of primary neuronal cells/tissues, stem cells for differentiation into neuronal cell lines, preparation of samples for cryoET, structure/function analysis of proteins involved in cytoskeletal organisation and the development of methods to visualize and assess the 3D organisations of these proteins in their native cellular context.
• Drive your own research within the scientific scope of the project, including formulating and testing scientific hypotheses, analyzing cryoET data produced in-situ, and developing new directions for scientific exploration.
• Design and carry out experiments in collaboration with other researchers within the Franklin, as well as institutions around the UK and globally.
• Contribute to the general development of research and outreach activities within the Franklin organisation, and at the new Franklin hub.
• Publish research findings in leading academic journals
• Present research findings in UK and worldwide academic conferences.
• Take a formal or informal role in the supervision of research students and other junior lab members.
• Any other duties that come up in the normal running of the facility and that can be reasonably requested of the post-holder.

Find out more about the role and apply here.