Research Assistant

Job description:

The laboratory of Professor Neil Hunter FRS in the School of Biosciences seeks a Research Associate to work on a collaborative project funded by an ERC Synergy award to Professors Dario Leister (Munich), Josef Komenda (Trebon, Czech Republic) and Neil Hunter. The aims of the Sheffield part of the Synergy project are to: (1) implement the latest methods for the de novo design of synthetic protein assemblies for artificial photosynthesis; (2) redesign the pigment and cofactor binding sites of naturally evolved photosynthetic reaction centre and light-harvesting complexes from purple phototrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria; (3) find ways to express the new photosystem genes in a variety of bacterial hosts; (4) optimise production of the redesigned complexes; (5) purify a wide range of carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments, and learn how to reconstitute them into designed and native apoproteins; (6) characterise the structural and functional properties of designed and native complexes using a variety of biophysical and spectroscopic methods.

The postholder will maintain and strengthen our collaboration with the research group of recent Chemistry Nobel Laureate, David Baker, in Seattle. Also, it is essential to make collaborative visits to Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich and Centre Algatech, Trebon, Czech Republic, as part of the Synergy research programme.

Applicants must be working towards a PhD with a background in the de novo design of proteins using a suite of new computational tools such as RoseTTAFold2, RoseTTAFold All-Atom, RFdiffusion All-Atom and LigandMPNN. Experience in gene manipulation, general protein engineering and purification of membrane and membrane-extrinsic proteins is also required.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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