Postdoctoral Fellow – Cherepanov Lab

This project will focus on the structural organization of the HIV-1 integration machinery. The successful candidate will study native pre-integration complexes isolated from infected cells using a range of biophysical and analytical techniques. Another exciting aspect of this project will involve dissecting the interactions between retroviral IN and RNA, and exploring how integrase facilitates the packaging of the viral RNA genome into mature cores. Research goals will be established in collaboration with the principal investigator.

The laboratory is dedicated to structural studies of viral replication and host-pathogen interactions. The group’s research efforts aim to understand the process of retroviral DNA integration, the roles of retroviral IN outside its canonical functions, and the mechanisms behind HIV-1 restriction factors, such as SERINC5. The laboratory also collaborates extensively with our groups within the Institute and with international partners.

The main techniques employed in the lab are cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography, supported by the Institute's state-of-the-art facilities. The Cryo-EM facility provides access to two Titan Krios 300-kV microscopes, each equipped with Falcon IV detectors, along with Talos Arctica and Glacios 200-kV instruments, and two 120-kV TEM screening microscopes. Cryo-EM data processing is conducted using an in-house CPU/GPU cluster.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigating research questions and developing specific research project(s) under guidance from the group leader.
• Providing specialist advice and guidance, sharing knowledge and expertise for the benefit of others.
• Providing significant contribution to the production of research papers for publication, presenting findings to group members and other internal audiences.
• Presenting work externally at international meetings.
• Authoring papers under guidance from group leader.
• Following Postdoctoral Training programme.
• Developing academic independence.
• Improving established protocols and/or develops new protocols.
• May be required to guide others.

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.

An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL, Imperial College London and King’s College London.

The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under in one building in Europe.

The Francis Crick Institute will be world-class with a strong national role. Its distinctive vision for excellence includes commitments to collaboration; developing emerging talent and exporting it the rest of the UK; public engagement; and helping turn discoveries into treatments as quickly as possible to improve lives and strengthen the economy.

If you are interested in applying for this role, please apply via the 'Apply' button.

• The closing date for applications is 01/12/24
• All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

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