Research Fellow in Function and Structure of Specialised Ribosomes in Drosophila melanogaster

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in either mRNA translation or cryo-EM? Are you keen to develop new skills in a range of approaches? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

Applications are invited for a BBSRC-funded postdoctoral research fellow position, to dissect the function and structure of specialised ribosomes. This exciting, timely and transformative research project has the potential to provide a step-change in our understanding of protein synthesis. Together we will characterise the composition, function and structure of specialised ribosomes in the Drosophila testis. This research project is a collaboration between two experts in the fields of mRNA translation/initiation (Dr Julie Aspden) and cryo-EM (Dr Juan Fontana), combining genetic, biochemical, genomic and structural approaches to tackle an important, outstanding question on the structure-function relationship of specialised ribosomes. We have already obtained evidence by mass spectrometry of the existence specialised ribosomes in different tissues from Drosophila melanogaster, and we have obtained cryo-EM averages of these ribosomes at ~4Å resolution. Therefore this is an active project that requires someone to drive it forward. You will join a vibrant research community within the Faculty of Biological Sciences at Leeds, including LeedsOmics and The Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology. 

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

Dr Julie Aspden, University Academic Fellow in Pervasive Transcription

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 9607 or email: j.aspden@leeds.ac.uk