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Dear colleagues: We would like to bring to your attention the following opening available immediately. Fully-funded Ph.D. position at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to carry out structure/function studies of component proteins of anti-feeding
prophage (Afp), a bacteriophage tail-like particle using high-resolution cryo-EM and x-ray crystallography. The project is in collaboration with Dr. Mark Hurst of NZ Ag Research and funded by a grant from Ministry of Business, innovation and Employment from
the NZ govt. The bacteria derived anti-feeding prophage (Afp) is a unique DNA-free entity likened to a cell-free type 6 secretion
system. It is pathogenic to a biological pest, the New Zealand pasture (grass grub) by transporting and delivering a protein toxin to the grass grub larvae. In order to assess the mechanism of Afp assembly and target cell interaction, using structural, molecular
and cell biology, we seek to determine and demonstrate the mechanism of Afp cell targeting and toxin delivery to the insect grass grub host. [(1)
Hurst et al. (2004) J. Bacteriol. 186:5116-5128; 2) Hurst et al. (2007)
FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 270:42-48), (3)
Heymann, J. B., Bartho, J. D., Rybakova, D. et al. (2013) J. Biol. Chem. 288: 25276-25284. (4) Rybakova, D., Radjainia, M., et al. (2013)
Mol. Microbiol. 89: 702-714. (5)
Rybakova, D., Schramm, P., Mitra, A. K., and Hurst, M. R. H. (2015).
Mol. Microbiol.
96:815-826)] The selected candidate. will have a background in biophysics or protein structural biochemistry with high GPA in M.
Sc. around 8 (out of 10). Experience in Structural Biology and transmission electron microscopy will be preferred but not essential. Familiarity with recombinant protein _expression_ and/or X-ray crystallography will be a plus. The cryo-EM facility at UoA is the premier such facility at New Zealand. We have a FEI T120 (cryo) for routine work
and a TF20 equipped with GIF for high-resolution cryo-EM and cryo-tomography work. We have direct access to the Titan Krios facilities at Monash University Australia and to a similar facility at Wollongong University through a strategic research linkage. The
computing facility within our laboratory and the access to computing cluster at UoA is sufficient for large-volume image processing. We also have access to an International class X-ray crystallography facility in house and ready access to the Australian Synchrotron
facility.. University of Auckland has a vibrant research environment and is the premier such Institute in New Zealand. Auckland
is a multi-ethnic cosmopolitan city consistently ranked amongst the top ten cities in the world. New Zealand is well known for its scenic beauty. For further information, please send a current CV and contact Dr. Alok K. Mitra, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New
Zealand. Tel: +64 09 923 8162, E.mail: a.mitra@auckland.ac.nz
or Dr. Mark H. Hurst,
Forage Science AgReserach Lincoln, New Zealand Tel +64 03 3259919, E-mail: mark.hurst@agresearch.co.nz Kind regards Alok K. Mitra, Ph.D. University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link: |