Postdoctoral Research Associate in X-ray and neuron protein
crystallography at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA
Reference Code ORNL11-93-NSSD
Eligibility Requirements
Degree: Doctoral Degree received within 60 months or currently pursuing.
Description
The main research objective of this project is to re-engineer enzymes
involved in the xylose sugar pathway to improve their activity and
stability under conditions involved in the efficient production of
biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass. This is a multi-task,
multi-disciplinary effort involving molecular biology, X-ray and
neutron crystallography, rational design using computer modeling
techniques, and enzyme activity assays. The successful candidate for
this position will be involved in the protein crystallography
component of the project which will be based at the DOE BER funded
Center for Structural Molecular Biology at ORNL. Specifically, the
postdoc will optimize crystal growth crystallographic data collection.
X-ray data will be collected using an in-house X-ray system and
neutron data will be collected using neutron beam lines that are
becoming available at the two world-leading neutron scattering
facilities run by ORNL (HFIR and SNS). Protein structure refinement
using both X-ray and neutron data will be carried out using CNS and
PHENIX software packages. From the mechanistic insights arising from
the crystallographic structures, specific amino acid residues will be
targeted for mutagenesis. Model building studies will be used to
predict consequences of mutating residues with varying sizes and
charge properties and mutant proteins will be assayed for improved
properties.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a PhD in protein crystallography or
a related field and have experience in molecular biology techniques
associated with plasmid-based expression systems, protein
purification, and protein crystallization. Furthermore, the successful
candidate will also have experience with crystallographic data
collection and analysis, and protein structure determination and
refinement. An ability to work in a collaborative team that includes
molecular biologists, enzyme scientists, beam lines scientists,
computational crystallographers, and collaborators from other
institutes is essential.
Please apply at
https://www3.orau.gov/ORNL_TOppS/Posting/Details/155
For informal questions please contact Leighton Coates and Paul Langan
at [log in to unmask]
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