Research Fellow in Structural Biology

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Working time: 100% - we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements

Contract type: Fixed term (for 21 months - to complete specific time limited work)

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in Structural studies of amyloid aggregates and want to help to develop new routes to combat amyloid diseases? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

We are looking for an outstanding research fellow to join our interdisciplinary team that is investigating how proteins aggregate into amyloid fibrils, and how fibrils with different structure perturb cellular function. This BIRAX-funded role is to use cryoEM, supported with other biochemical and biophysical analyses, to understand the structure of amyloid fibrils formed in vitro and purified from patient samples and to determine the activity of different fibril types in causing neuronal dysfunction. This will help to reveal the mechanisms by which disease-relevant mutations and post-translational modifications effect changes in amyloid aggregate formation and the consequences of aggregation on cellular function.

You will be based in the laboratories of Professors Sheena Radford and Neil Ranson, and work closely with other members of our amyloid team. The work will be carried out in collaboration with Professor Raz Jelinek (Ben Gurion University) who has recently shown an activity of amyloid fibrils in the degradation of neurotransmitters. You should have a PhD (or be close to completing one) in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline, and extensive experience of using structural methods to elucidate biological mechanisms. Experience in cryo-electron microscopy would be a significant advantage, but training will be given to outstanding structural biologists lacking this experience but able to evidence their passion and commitment to learn cryo-EM techniques.

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Sheena Radford, Astbury Professor of Biophysics

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 3170

Email: s.e.radford@leeds.ac.uk

or

Professor Neil A Ranson, Professor of Structural Molecular Biology

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 7065

Email: n.a.ranson@leeds.ac.uk

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