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Institution: University of Leeds
United Kingdom
Retrieved : 2019-03-18 Expired
Description :

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in molecular biophysics and/or chemical biology? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

Molecular interactions are key for life. Biological interactions need to be strong and specific. A strong interaction, such as that binding antibody and antigen, involves an energy gain large enough to compensate for entropy loss. Adhesion, for example between cells, is a particular phenomenon that arises from multiple weak interactions. Poor understanding of adhesion prevents the design of inhibitors of antiadhesives that prevent e.g., adhesion between bacteria and host cells or between tumour cells. Taking part to this project you will integrate a multidisciplinary team that aims to bring fundamental understanding through the design of inhibitors that bind simultaneously to distant sites on the target protein. The central aim of this project is to develop a rigorous method for predicting and designing large, flexible ligands that are still effective binders. You will develop and exemplify a strategy by designing novel specific glycomimetic multivalent compounds that can bridge the primary and secondary binding sites of cholera toxin (CT) and E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT). Such a goal can only be reached by applying a unique multidisciplinary approach integrating computational modelling with biophysical, structural and chemical biology experiments. Promising designs will be synthesized, tested by biophysical methods (e.g., ITC, HDX/MS), and iteratively improved as we validate the design strategy. 

You should have a PhD (or close to completion) in chemical biology, computational biophysics or a closely related discipline with experience in molecular dynamics simulations.

The University of Leeds and the Faculty of Biological Sciences are committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offer a range of family friendly policies. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN (the national body that promotes gender equality in higher education), and the Faculty of Biological Sciences was reawarded a Bronze award in 2017.  We are proud to be an inclusive Faculty that values all staff, and are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees. Our Athena SWAN webpage provides more information. 

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr Emanuele Paci, Associate Professor

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 3806; email: e.paci@leeds.ac.uk

Professor Bruce Turnbull, Professor of Biomolecular Chemistry

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 7438; email: w.b.turnbull@leeds.ac.uk


Closing Date: 01 Apr 2019
Category: Research





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