Annons MSCA-doktorand till Institutionen för cell- och molekylärbiologi

2024-08-20

Structural characterization of group II introns from Enterobacterales and Candida species and the 5’UTR of ompA bound to inhibitors using cryo-EM

Research field:

Keywords: RNA cryoEM, structural biology, RNA biochemistry

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.

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://icm.uu.se.

The PhD student recruited through this call will work in Marco Marcia’s research group. Marco Marcia leads a research group in structural and cell biology and RNA biochemistry. The group works with RNA cryoEM and X-ray crystallography, coupled to RNA chemical probing, mutagenesis, cellular functional assays, and RNA-protein interaction techniques. These 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 student 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.

PhD project description:

DC16: Structure-functional characterization of bacterial and fungal ribozymes and regulatory UTR regions using cryo-EM

Supervisor: Marco Marcia

Host institute: Uppsala University, Sweden

Secondments planned: IIT Genova, Italy (supervisor: De Vivo)

University of Basel (supervisor: Häussinger)

Doctoral program: Molecular Life Science (TNMOBI00)

https://www.uu.se/en/staff/faculty/science-and-technology/education-and-teaching/doctoral-studies/subjects-and-study-plans/subjects/molecular-life-sciences

Project description DC16: We will apply cryo-EM and integrative structural biology and biochemical approaches (X-ray, SAXS) to characterize binding of small molecule inhibitors to bacterial and fungal ribozymes and regulatory UTR regions. We will use cutting edge cryo-EM sample preparation, data acquisition and data processing approaches to capture these small-molecule-bound RNAs at high resolution, visualizing how the compounds impede catalysis and modulate the structural dynamics of the target RNAs. The targets consist of ~400-800 nucleotides and adopt highly structured 3D fold. Useful references: Marcia and Pyle, Cell, 2012; Manigrasso et al, Nat Comm, 2020; Manigrasso et al, Chem, 2021; Martin et al, TIPS, 2021; Silvestri et al, Nat Comm, 2024.

Skills/Qualifications: Applicants need to have

completed a degree at the advanced level (Master’s level), or
completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are at the advanced level (Master’s level), or
acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

The University may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds (Chapter 7, § 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

For doctoral studies in Molecular Biosciences it is required that the accepted candidate has passed courses in relevant topics of at least 60 credits at the advanced level. It is required that the student is well acquainted with the theories in the current research field through advanced level courses and have completed a master degree project in a relevant discipline.

Provided that the above course requirements are met, the special eligibility can be obtained through studies in the natural science, biomedicine or engineering programs. Equivalent knowledge can also be acquired in other ways in Sweden or abroad.

Benefits/Salary/Social security: The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed.

Placement: Uppsala

Your application must be written in English and must include:

A personal letter where you describe yourself, your research interest, your experiences and why you are interested in the position (max. 2 pages).
A CV containing your education and other qualifications that are relevant to the position.
A copy of your diploma(s)
A copy of your Master degree thesis.
Contact information of at least two reference persons.

Very important information:

Interviews for this position are planned for Oct 18th
For further information about the position, please contact Dr. Marco Marcia at marcia@icm.uu.se

For more information about the project, please visit the following link: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/266524/phd-research-fellows-in-msca-doctoral-training-network-about-targeting-rna-with-small-molecules

Apply for the position through the following link: https://www.uib.no/en/targetrna/171320/doctoral-candidate-16