Massey University Post-Doctoral Position

October 23, 2007

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A post-doctoral position (3 years depending on when you start,
preferably immediately), is available for an enthusiastic PhD
graduate in the group of Dr. Sattlegger, Institute of Molecular
BioSciences (IMBS), at the Massey University that was ranked as
as one of the world’s top 500 Universities http://masseynews. massey.ac.nz/2007/Press_Releases/08-09-07a.html .
http://imbs.massey.ac.nz/Staff/sattlegger.htm. We are seeking
a highly motivated PhD graduate with extensive experience and strong
interest in molecular biology and protein purification, and with the
ability to execute and interpret experiments aimed to reach the set
research aims as outlined below, and strong ability as well as strong
interest/enthousiasm in/for developing new experimental methods, and
designing, troubleshooting, and improving experimental procedures.
The ideal candidate is interested in signal transduction,
and enjoys challenging interdisciplinary work that may cover some
or all fields of genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell
biology, and structural biology.
Specifically you should have experience in the overexpression and
purification of recombinant proteins. Knowledge in protein-protein and
protein-nucleic acid interaction studies, purification of ribosomes,
ribosomal functional assays, enzyme kinetics are advantageous. You must be able to do and enjoy troubleshooting, one of the most important abilities for succeeding in science.

In order to be considered as candidate you must submit a cover letter
outlining how your expertise makes you well suited for this
position, you must provide the names and emails of at least 2
references, and a detailed CV including what classes you took at
University (relevant to this position) and what marks you
obtained.

Applications and enquiries should be directed to Dr
Evelyn Sattlegger, Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey
University, Auckland, New Zealand, email e.sattlegger@massey.ac.nz
(you need to write A507-06F in the subject line, use
esattlegger@gmail.com for attachments larger than 1MB).
Applications will be considered immediately.

Purpose Statement:
Our principle goal is to understand cellular
functions in molecular detail. We want to unravel
how cells cope with stress, in particular starvation for amino acids.
Amino acids are important nutrients, because as constituents of
proteins they execute the majority of biological functions. The signal
transduction pathway, (here abbreviated as GAAC, for General Amino
Acid Control), is essential for coping with and overcoming starvation.
The crucial immediate task of GAAC is to monitor amino acid
availability. Our recent findings strongly suggest that this sensing
mechanism occurs on the ribosome. Therefore, the aim of the
postdoctoral project is to locate protein(s) of the GAAC system on the
ribosome, by using baker’s yeast as eukaryotic model organism, and
by employing a variety of techniques which may include protein
purification, purification of ribosomes, ribosomal functional assays
under near-physiological conditions, in vivo and in vitro protein-
protein and protein-RNA interaction assays, genetic approaches, yeast
2-hybrid, gene engineering, cryo electron microscopy via collaborative
efforts. Some of these projects very likely will include
collaborations with national and international researchers (e.g.
Germany, the USA).

What makes this project even more interesting is
the fact that GAAC has been implicated in feeding behaviour in mice,
long term memory formation, defence against RNA viruses, etc. Thus
your research findings in yeast will have wider implications, and will
pave the way in understanding the many roles that GAAC plays. This
research project is funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand,
Marsden Fund, see http://masseynews.massey.ac.nz/2006/Press_
Releases/09-07-06a.html.

Our Institute of Molecular BioSciences is located in
Palmerston North and in the northern suburbs of Auckland (Albany).
You will be located in Albany, on our young and continuously
growing campus. In fact, our Institute in Albany is growing rapidly
giving you excellent opportunities to perform cutting edge research
and discuss science with other enthousiastic colleagues.

The Auckland campus is conveniently located in
the suburbs of Auckland, such that you have access to the largest
cosmopolitan centre in New Zealand (about 20 min to downtown
Auckland), and simultaneously have immediate access to the beautiful
New Zealand nature, (10 min to the beach and nature, and under 1h or
more to many natural reserves), for more see
http://imbs.massey.ac.nz/german/albany_e.htm.

Scholarship