Hi all! I've got an unusual PhD position available to work on improving model building software for users. The project aims to be scientifically disruptive in that we aim to use our software to work out how to make our competitors software better. Applications should go through the website (don't send them to me!)
A PhD position is available to work in the group of Dr Kevin Cowtan on
computational methods for automatic building of protein structures. Both
X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy can give us a picture of
the electron density clouds in a protein molecule. However chemists and
biologists want to know about the layout of the atoms corresponding to
those clouds. Automated software is used to build a three dimensional
model of the atoms in the protein which explains the observed electron
density.
There are several competing software tools which
address this problem, with their own strengths and weaknesses. The rise
of Open Research provides a new opportunity for us to transcend
traditional group boundaries and investigate how to combine the
different parts of competing software tools to produce a method which is
better than any of its components.
The project will involve
investigating the strengths and weaknesses of software developed at York
and elsewhere and develop ways of breaking the software into steps
which can be combined in different combinations. The resulting software
will be used to help structural biologists all over the world in their
work.
All Chemistry research students have access to our
innovative Doctoral Training in Chemistry (iDTC): cohort-based training
to support the development of scientific, transferable and employability
skills:
https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/postgraduate/idtc/
The Department of Chemistry holds an Athena SWAN Gold Award and is
committed to supporting equality and diversity for all staff and
students. The Department strives to provide a working environment which
allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to
excel:
https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/ed/. This PhD project is available to study full-time or part-time (50%).
This PhD will formally start on 1 October 2020. Induction activities will start on 28 September.