ISB postdoc program – Calls out for project proposals from PIs

The ISB postdoc program call is now open for the round of 2021. At this stage we are inviting project proposals from PIs that wish to recruit postdocs within this program. For full details of the call and how to apply, please see https://www.biostruct.umu.se/isb-postdoctoral-program/

New publication on the regulation of conjugation

We have a new publication out in mSphere regarding how enterococcal PrgU provides additional layer of complexity to pheromone controlled conjugative plasmids in Gram-positive bacteria!

https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00264-21

Postdoc fellowship available in Karina Persson’s group- apply by June 18

Apply here: Postdoc fellowship available in Karina Persson’s lab

If you are interested in membrane proteins and structural biology and want to use a blend mentods: X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM and protein chemistry- please apply. It is a fellowship for two years funded by Carl Trygger foundations.

Postdoc fellowship available to work on Type 4 Secretion Systems – deadline 21st of May

The Berntsson lab at the department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Umeå University, Sweden, is recruiting one postdoctoral fellow (funded by the Kempe Foundation) to study the structural and functional aspects of Type 4 Secretion Systems. These large protein complexes are responsible for horizontal gene transfer between bacteria. As such, they facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors between bacteria, both intra- and interspecies.

            The overall goal of this project is to study the assembly and structure of the membrane channel of Gram-positive Type 4 Secretion Systems, with the aim of deducing their structure via cryo-EM. Initial work on this project has already been done, with a focus on the individual components of the channel (both unpublished data and Jäger et al, 2020, bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2020.10.30.342212), which we will now build upon. Here at Umeå University we have access to excellent facilities to perform integrated structural biology projects, including a state-of-the-art cryo-EM facility (https://tinyurl.com/b2szms7z).

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a PhD, or another diploma deemed equivalent to a PhD, within molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology or a related field. Furthermore, the applicant must have practical experience and expertise of cloning, protein production and purification in/from bacteria. Previous experience with cryo-EM (single particle analysis or electron tomography) is highly desirable. Previous experience of working with membrane proteins is an advantage, as is experience with Gram-positive bacteria, like E. faecalis. The applicant must have a very good level of English, both written and spoken. To fit into our team, applicants are expected to be good team players, but they should also be able to work independently. 

Application

The application should consist of the following:

  1. A motivation letter (max 1 A4), where you highlight why you want to join the lab and study T4SSs. This letter must also include your contact information.
  2. The Curriculum Vitae of the applicant, including a list of published peer-reviewed articles.
  3. Copies of the PhD diploma (or equivalent).
  4. Contact details for three references, of which one should be your PhD supervisor.

The duration of the fellowship, which is a tax-free stipend, is 2 years. Your application should be written in English and prepared as a single package in PDF format, to be submitted to ronnie.berntsson@umu.se. Make sure to use the subject line: “postdoc application 2021-05” in the application email. Submit the application on May 21st, 2021 at the latest. The top ranked candidates will be contacted within two weeks from the closing date for an interview. Starting date will be according to agreement (and of course what the current pandemic situation allows). For more information about the research or other details, please contact Dr. Ronnie Berntsson. 

Email: ronnie.berntsson@umu.se

Webpage: https://www.biostruct.umu.se/principal-investigators/ronnie-berntsson/

PhD position is available in group Sauer-Eriksson

We are looking for a motivated research student with a strong interest in structure biology, biophysics and biochemistry.

Job descriptions and general specifications of the PhD position are available on the following recruitment website:

https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/open-positions/phd-position-in-structure-biology_365841/

Application deadline is 10th Dec 2020

Best Regards,

Elisabeth Sauer-Eriksson

New article out from the Ekström group

The article “In situ assembly of choline acetyltransferase ligands by a hydrothiolation reaction reveals key determinants for inhibitor design” was just published in Angewandte Chemie.

ATP/GTP selectivity Article by Sauer-Eriksson & Wolf-Watz

We have discovered the strutcural basis for GTP vs. ATP selectivity in the NMP kinase family of enyzmes. The results are published in Biochemistry
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00549

ERC Starting Grant 2020 to Jonas Barandun

We are very happy that Jonas Barandun was awarded the ERC Starting Grant 2020! More info here.

New article out – surface exclusion to prevent unwanted conjugation

A new article from the Berntsson lab, with Dr. Andreas Schmitt as lead author, has just been accepted in the Journal of Molecular Biology, see here for the full (curently pre-proof version) article.

PhD position in human protein kinases

 A PhD position in biochemistry is available in the laboratory of Professor Magnus Wolf-Watz at the Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Sweden. The PhD project is aimed at uncovering novel molecular mechanisms underlying the function of human protein kinases. Focus will be on two specific protein kinases that are intimately linked to a number of disorders in humans including various forms of cancer. The doctoral student will enter a multidisciplinary project that is built on collaborations with both Professor Kwangho Nam at University of Texas Arlington and with Marené Landström (Professor in pathology at Umeå University). The doctoral student will be trained in structural biology, protein production, biochemistry and biophysics and will collaborate with both cell biologists and computational chemists. Structural biology may go in any of the directions; single particle cryo EM, x-ray crystallography or protein NMR spectroscopy depending on the development of the research project and also depending on the interests of the doctoral student. The position is in part funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Please contact magnus.wolf-watz@umu.se for more information

Click here for the on-line application https://umu.varbi.com/se/what:job/jobID:328538/