Post-doctoral Research Fellow: Biophysics/Protein Structural Biology

University of Leeds - Biological Sciences

Fixed term for 2 years

Investigating the effects of extensional flow on protein therapeutics using biophysics

Applications are invited for an industry / University of Leeds-funded postdoctoral research assistant to join a dynamic, interdisciplinary team focusing on the use of biophysical, biochemical and engineering methods to investigate the effect of industrial scale processing on the biophysical properties of protein therapeutics (bio-pharmaceuticals such as antibody drugs). The aim of the project is to develop single molecule fluorescence and mass spectrometry methods to measure the effect of flow and surface interactions on protein conformational ensembles. By comparing the behaviour of pairs of homologous therapeutic proteins with ideal and problematic processing behaviour, we will develop a toolkit of experimental methods to be applied early in process development, to assess candidate drugs for their bio-processability and, at a fundamental level, to understand how protein dynamics relate to self-assembly.

You will be based in the laboratory of Professor Sheena Radford and Dr David Brockwell at the University of Leeds and will work closely with other members of the team (Professor Alison Ashcroft and Professor Nikil Kapur) employing structural and biophysical methods to characterise bio-pharmaceuticals. You should have (or be close to completing) a PhD in biochemistry, chemistry, physics or a related area. Experience in protein chemistry and /or protein characterisation (using mass spectrometry, single molecule spectroscopy or other structural methods) is essential.

The position is available from 1 June 2014, or as soon as possible thereafter.

University Grade 7 (£30,728 - £36,661 p.a.) Due to funding limitations an appointment will not be made above £30,728 p.a.

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr David Brockwell, tel +44 (0)113 343 7821, email d.j.brockwell@leeds.ac.uk or Professor Sheena Radford, tel +44 (0)113 343 3170, s.e.radford@leeds.ac.uk.