Posted on behalf of Dr. Franck Martin (CNRS IBMC, Strasbourg, France)

=======================================================================================

URGENT - Recovery Plan Project - Post-doctoral fellow (M/F) in molecular and structural biology (Cryo-EM)

Mission

You will be working as a post-doctoral researcher in a mixed public/private environment. The team 'Evolution of translation initiation systems in eukaryotes' of the unit 'Architecture and Reactivity of RNA' (UPR 9002 of the CNRS) of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMC) of Strasbourg in association with the company Novalix. NovAliX is a 180+ employees society based in Illkirch (near Strasbourg). We offer to the pharmaceutical industry a complete range of services spanning biophysics, biochemistry, structural biology, chemistry & drug discovery. It is specified that this recruitment offer is part of the France Recovery Plan on a research collaboration project with a company which will be submitted to the DRARI for validation. The project will consist in structurally and functionally characterizing macromolecular complexes allowing the initiation of viral RNA of SARS-CoV-2.

Activities

The approaches used will be based on the use of cell-free translation extracts that will allow us to assemble and purify translation initiation complexes on our model messenger RNAs. The composition of these complexes will be determined by mass spectrometry and their structure by advanced structural approaches. The techniques used will be:

- Biochemical and molecular biology methods dedicated to the study of proteins and nucleic acids and in particular RNA

- Cryo-EM sample preparation, optimizing sample vitrification conditions.

- Collect and analyse cryo-EM data. 3D reconstruction, structure determination and atomic model building.

- Preparation of in vitro cell-free translation extracts

The candidate will have to develop his/her project independently.

Expected qualifications and proficiencies

This includes the mastery of biochemical and molecular biology approaches for the purification of ribonucleoprotein complexes. Strong expertise in structural biology (Crystallography/Cryo-Electron Microscopy) especially on macromolecular complexes containing the ribosome will be considered as a plus. Ideally, the candidate should also be able to interpret electron density maps to establish atomic models of ribonucleic complexes containing the ribosome. The candidate must have defended his/her thesis in 2019 or 2020.

Environment

The candidate will join a biochemistry and molecular biology team specialising in translation initiation in eukaryotes. The structural part of the project will be implemented within the company Novalix. The Novalix cryo-EM platform is currently equipped with a Glacios microscope outfitted with a phase plate, Falcon 3 camera and microED setup. The candidate will spend 20% of his/her time in the public laboratory for the preparation of samples and 80% of his/her time at Novalix for the structural aspect.