Postdoctoral position in Structural biology of non-coding RNAs

Postdoctoral position in Structural biology of non-coding RNAs

Are you interested in working with RNA cryoEM, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a Postdoctoral position at Uppsala University. 

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology is divided into seven research programs that focus on different areas within cell and molecular biology: computational biology and bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular biophysics, molecular evolution, molecular systems biology and structural biology. The scientific basis of what we do is in biology, but our research overlaps with other fields such as medicine, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, engineering and physics. The department has over 200 employees with around 60 PhD students. Please read more about the organization's work at https://www.uu.se/en/department/cell-and-molecular-biology.

The Postdoctoral researcher will work in Marco Marcia’s research group. Marco Marcia leads a research group in structural and cell biology and RNA biochemistry where RNA cryoEM and X-ray crystallography, coupled to RNA chemical probing, mutagenesis, cellular functional assays, and RNA-protein interaction techniques are used to understand structure-function relationships in large catalytic and regulatory non-coding RNAs involved in bacterial and fungal infections, cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. The employee will work in an international and dynamic environment with great opportunities to learn new techniques. We will have a well-equipped lab, in house access to a Glacios cryoEM microscope, and access to national SciLifeLab facilities in structural biology, proteomics, genomics, chemical biology, genetic engineering, and imaging in Uppsala, Stockholm, and Gothenburg. 

Duties
We are looking for a Postdoctoral researcher with excellent credentials and strong motivation to identify and solve scientific problems. The employee will work in a project that aims to understand structural and mechanistic aspects of how bacterial and fungal self-splicing ribozymes acquire their catalytic 3D structures. Tasks include general RNA-based molecular biology techniques (cloning, mutagenesis, in vitro transcription), RNA purification, biochemical and biophysical characterization (electrophoresis, MALLS, mass photometry), and RNA structural biology (crystallography, cryoEM).

Requirements
PhD degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, or analogous fields or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, or analogous fields. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc. 

The researcher will work closely with a doctoral student and other researchers with partly complementary competences, but is expected to run their own project independently. A strong track record with documented laboratory skills, motivation and good collaboration skills is a prerequisite for the position

• Experience working with in vitro transcribed RNA
• Experience working with RNA cryo-electron microscopy
• Experience working with RNA SAXS and integrative structural biology
• Good knowledge of English
• Good cooperative skills

Additional qualifications

• Experience studying the biological pathways that regulate splicing is advantageous.
• Experience in organizing and presenting at scientific meetings is advantageous. 

Application
The application must contain:

• Personal letter
• A CV with the complete list of publications
• Contact details for two reference persons

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of at least two years and at most three years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 1st of November 2024 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Marco Marcia, 0046-184714988, marco.marcia@icm.uu.se 

Please submit your application by 15th of October 2024, UFV-PA 2024/3247.

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