A great opportunity is on offer to work on one of the most exciting areas of structural biology - that of integral membrane proteins with a focus on ion channels and transporters.

Position Title:	Postdoctoral Scientist - Membrane Receptor Signalling Group
Grade:		Salary scale for University Staff Grade 7: *25,889 - *31,840 p.a.
Working to:	Senior Scientist/Team Leader Structural Biochemistry and to the Principal Investigator, Biology 2 Team at the Structural Genomics Consortium
Location:              	Based at the Botnar Research Centre at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

Key objectives:

Protein expression, purification, characterization and crystallization of integral membrane proteins within the Structural Biochemistry Team in Biology Division within the UK arm of the Structural Genomics Consortium. 

Background:

The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) is an international UK-Canadian-Swedish collaboration whose primary objective is to determine the 3-dimensional structures of human and malaria proteins and release them into the public domain. The SGC is funded by the Wellcome Trust, a group of Canadian and Swedish funding agencies and GlaxoSmithKline. Since its establishment in 2003 (the Swedish node added in 2004) it has built the infrastructure and technology platforms to determine the structures of ~200 proteins of medical relevance per year. The current Phase of funding for SGC Oxford ends in June 2008. The application for renewal of the grant until June 2011 is currently under review. 

The SGC is one of the largest high throughput structural biology projects in the world, operating from three sites, one at the University of Toronto, one at the Karolinska University in Stockholm and one at the University of Oxford based at the Botnar Research Centre, which is located at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, Oxford. All three sites have independent yet coordinated activities reflecting the scientific expertise and environment at each site. The Oxford site currently targets oxidoreductases, metabolic enzymes, kinases, phosphatases, G proteins and signalling components that are involved in human disease. A growing emphasis lies on transmembrane proteins.

The SGC Chief Executive, Dr Aled Edwards, has overall responsibility for implementation of the activity and is required to report quarterly to the Board of Directors (via the Chairman). Board members determine the strategic direction, milestones and administer the budget. The Chief Scientists, Dr Johann Weigelt, Dr Michael Sundstrom and Dr Cheryl Arrowsmith are coordinating the Stockholm, Oxford and Toronto operations, respectively. The Oxford site currently consists of ~65 staff members. For more information see: http://www.sgc.ox.ac.uk/.


Main duties:

1.	To participate in the scientific and technical activities of a structural biochemistry team within the SGC.

2.	Under supervision, perform independent research within the Structural Biochemistry Team.

3.	To work with the Senior Scientist of the Structural Biochemistry Team toward the goals set for the Biology Division and the Structural Genomics Consortium.

4.	To express, purify, characterize and crystallize integral membrane proteins on the SGC *priority list*.

5.	To gain excellent skills in all aspects of Structural Biochemistry as defined above (4).

6.	To establish excellent working relations within the Biology divisions and other divisions of the SGC.

7.	To demonstrate excellent scientific skills and actively contribute to scientific publications of key results. 

8.	To carry out any other relevant duties as may reasonably be associated with the post and which may be required from time to time.


Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

*	Good scientific publication record
*	Proven experience in at least 2 of the following areas: protein production, purification, characterization, crystallization, and structure determination.
*	PhD in a relevant area of protein science and biochemistry relating to integral membrane protein families preferably ion channels, transporters or other family members of biomedical importance.
*	Ability to function well as part of a team.
*	Demonstrate integrity, enthusiasm, motivation, flexibility and confidence 


Application Procedure

Application form can be found at http://www.sgc.ox.ac.uk/jobs/07021.html 
Completed applications should be sent to the Personnel Administrator, Room 5802, Nuffield Dept of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU or e-mail to [log in to unmask]  Please quote the reference HB-07-021-SGC. The closing date for applications is Friday 13 April 2007.


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Declan Doyle



PI Membrane Receptor Signalling Group
Structural Genomics Consortium
University of Oxford,
Botnar Research Centre,
Oxford OX3 7LD.

www.sgc.ox.ac.uk 
Tele: 01865 227970
Fax:  01865 737231