A Diploma position in Structural Biology is available at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) for a Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or Chemistry student. The position would start in September or October 2011 and would continue for 9 months to 1 year.

The main focus of our group is to study the molecular mechanisms of how chaperones and proteases monitor the functionality of cellular proteins and selectively eliminate those that cannot do their job anymore. This protein-quality-control is of crucial importance for all living cells preventing the aggregation of damaged proteins under various stress situations. The diploma project aims to elucidate the activation mechanism of the bacterial proteasome, which is an important factor for mycobacterial pathogenesis. It will be interesting to see how the “simple” bacterial protein-shredder compares to the much more complex eukaryotic proteasome and how the substrate recognition, unfolding and degradation devices cooperate with each other. The project, which is certainly pretty ambitious, offers great possibilities to learn a variety of classical (4°C) as well as state-of-the-art (robotics) biochemical techniques. Given the outlined project, the experimental focus will lie in the purification of native protein complexes, the development of enzymatic assays, subsequent kinetic analyses, and the cloning, expression and purification of specifically designed protein constructs.

We are looking for a highly motivated student, who has a strong interest in biochemistry and structural biology. There are no special requirements for application; however students already experienced in protein purification and/or protein biochemistry are particularly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should send their CV to

Dr. Tim Clausen (tim.clausen@imp.ac.at) or Dr. Sonja Sollner (sonja.sollner@imp.ac.at)

http://www.imp.ac.at/research/research-groups/clausen-group/