[Sweden] Postdoctoral scholarship - Chalmers University of Technology
A postdoctoral scholarship: Quantitative in Vivo Protein Imaging for Systems Biology
Analytical methods in current molecular biology and proteomics are mostly destructive - breaking cells and measuring in vitro. These procedures are prone to artefacts and to potentially record non-relevant quantitative measures.
Thus, there is a strong need for in vivo cell analysis of relevant molecular measures, including system dynamics. In this project, our goal is to develop in vivo fluorescence microscopy coupled to unbiased image evaluation, statistics, and dynamic mathematical modelling. The aim is to provide quantitative information of protein expression, protein localisation and protein-protein interactions in a central signal transduction pathway with general relevance in biology and in the understanding of cancer. The project will be conducted as part of an on-going collaboration between Chalmers and Göteborg University in Systems Biology.
The cellular module under study is the RAS/PAK signalling pathway in yeast which has a number of interesting protein expression, localisation and interaction aspects that can be explored by fluorescence microscopy. Some central components to be analysed are the RAS GTPase stimulating factor Ira2p, its negative inhibitor Tfs1p, the PKA negative regulator Bcy1p, and the down-stream transcription factor Msn2p.
The work will focus on making fluorescent protein fusion constructs, to be transformed into appropriate mutants, for FRET analysis of protein interactions, but the project also involves dynamic stress experiments, including studies of small molecule inhibitors. This molecular biology work will be performed at Lundberg Laboratory, Dept. of Cell and Molecular Biology (http://www.cmb.gu.se), Göteborg University, in the laboratory of prof. Anders Blomberg. The laboratory is well equipped for yeast and general proteomics research and is part of an environment that harbours the great proportion of the Gothenburg Yeast Centre, which represent one of the largest aggregation of yeast researchers in Europe.
The microscopy part of the project will be conducted at the Center for Biophysical Imaging at Chalmers, which is well equipped with various relevant microscopy techniques, in the group of prof. Mikael Käll:
www.chalmers.se/ap/EN/research/bionanophotonics.
Image analysis methodologies and systems biology models are developed in collaboration with Frauenhofer-Chalmers Center for Industrial Mathematics, Dr. Mats Jirstrand & Dr. Mats Kvarnström.
The position will be available for a maximum period of two years and is open to non-Swedish citizens who received their PhD not more than two years before the starting date of the scholarship. The applicant shall have a solid background in molecular biology and microbiology/yeast biology.
Good practical experience with various DNA technologies, like PCR, DNA cloning etc., is a prerequisite. Previous work on bioimaging with GFP tagged proteins in yeast is a highly valued asset. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate that can be available for participate in the project as soon as possible, but not later than October 2007.
The application should include:
a signed cover letter, where you give a short overview of your previous experience and motivation, and curriculum vitae, including publication list. The application should also contain contact information for two reference persons.
The application should be sent to:
registrator@adm.chalmers.se, or by mail: Registrator, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
Mark the application with reference number 2007/93. Direct recruitment will be applied, so send in your application as soon as possible.
Closing date is June 30:th, 2007. In order to improve the gender balance at the Department, we welcome in particular applications from female candidates.
For more information regarding the molecular biology part of the project contact
prof. Anders Blomberg
Dept. of Cell and Molecular Biology
GU, Tel: +46 31 773 2589,
e-mail: anders.blomberg@gmm.gu.se.
For more information regarding the imaging part of the project contact
prof. Mikael Käll
Division of Bionanophotonics
Chalmers. Tel: +46 31 772 3119.
e-mail: kall@fy.chalmers.se
Union representatives
SACO Jan Lindér, ST Monika Orrbacke, SEKO Ralf Berndtsson
