Postdoctoral fellowship: Transthyretin amyloidosis using X-rays, neutrons, and EM

Description of the workplace

You will be based at the medical faculty in Lund. The group for Molecular Biophysics is located at the Biomedical Center (BMC) at Lund University and is led by Professor Trevor Forsyth.

You will have good access to state-of-the-art facilities both within the medical, science and engineering faculties and close proximity to the nearby MAX-IV synchrotron and ESS neutron beam facilities as well as access to the ILL and ESRF sources in Grenoble, France.

Project description

Structural basis of transthyretin amyloidosis and significance for amyloid cardiomyopathy

A highly motivated postdoctoral scientist is sought to work on a project designed to extend our understanding of the molecular basis of transthyretin amyloidosis Read more here. Human transthyretin (TTR) is a protein that transports thyroxine and retinol-binding protein (RBP) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Wild-type TTR is intrinsically amyloidogenic, but a large number of TTR mutants have been identified that are associated with early-onset amyloidosis and where there are remarkable tissue specificities.  This project seeks to gather atomic/molecular level information  on different TTR mutants using crystallography (X-ray and neutron), cryo-EM, and a wide range of other biophysical techniques. It will make use of the MAX-IV and ESS facilities in Sweden as well as the ESRF and ILL X-ray/neutron sources in Grenoble, France. Where possible it is planned  to carry out comparative studies of amyloid material derived from in vitro and ex vivo sources. The project will have good access to state-of-the-art facilities within the medical, natural science and engineering faculties, as well as being located in close proximity to the nearby MAX-IV synchrotron and ESS neutron beam facilities on the Science Village campus near the Lund city centre.

Duties and responsibilities

The tasks as a postdoctoral researcher mainly include conducting research. Teaching may be part of the work duties, but no more than a fifth of the working time. Within the framework of the employment, there must be an opportunity for three weeks of university pedagogical training.

You will have responsibility for sample preparation (including expression, purification, crystallization), data collection and analysis work as agreed during regular meetings. You will participate in regular laboratory tasks within the research group as part of normal day-to-day operations in a team-driven laboratory environment. The work may require travel to and studies at other institutes/centres  such as the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in France, and other centers as needed for the project. You may also be asked to participate in national and international conferences.  The work will also include at least one secondment outside Lund University.

Description of the AMBER project context 

This post-doctoral position is part of the EU cofund research project AMBER, Advanced Multiscale Biological imaging using European Research infrastructures, will address scientific and sectoral gaps in biological imaging ranging from molecular, through cellular, to tissue, organ and organism levels of organisation, and is coordinated by LINXS Institute of advanced Neutron and X-ray Science.

AMBER is funded by the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) COFUND scheme.

Around 10 postdocs will be recruited in the Third call 2024, with each fellowship lasting 36 months.

AMBER has six core partners: Lund University/MAX IV, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS), Sweden, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), France, the International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, (IMOL), Poland, and the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, United Kingdom.

Your work may include clinical and biomedical projects. It may also include technique development work aimed at combining imaging techniques and data analysis to provide a more integrated picture of life processes in the context of health and disease. To be a postdoc fellow at the AMBER programme you will get unprecedented medical, biological, and methodological capabilities, with a profound potential impact for Europe’s next generation of research and researchers. When you have completed the AMBER programme you will be extraordinarily well equipped to further your career in academia, at infrastructures, in the health and MedTech sectors, and beyond.

For more information about the total announced post-doctoral positions within in the AMBER co-fund project please visit euraxess.se

The interviews will start in June 2025. For more information about AMBER, application and evaluation process etc please visit: ambercofund.eu

Qualifications and assessment grounds

Minimum requirements are:

Minimum requirements are:

• candidate needs to have a maximum 8 years after a doctoral degree (PhD), as required by the project Grant Agreement signed with the European Commission,
• at least one original publication in a peer-reviewed journal,
• a background in the relevant methods,
• a complete application package submitted through the AMBER portal (including CV and detailed research plan), and finally,
• strict compliance with the MSCA mobility rule that the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host organisation's country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the call deadline.

The employment also requires:

Undergraduate and doctoral degrees in physics, biological sciences or other relevant fields of science. Basic knowledge of protein expression and purification Basic knowledge of protein crystallisation and crystallogenesis Basic understanding of diffraction – X-ray/neutron crystallography, small angle X-ray/neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS) and corresponding data processing /analysis. Ability to develop and conduct good quality research Femonstration of motivation and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Meritorious for the employment

Ability to perform basic programming tasks expected for routine data handling and interpretation. Ability to clearly formulate scientific results and to prepare reports as needed/demanded. Evidence of interpersonal skills befitting a researcher working in a highly interactive and collaborative environment. Demonstration of experience/competence beyond basic understanding of techniques mentioned in previous section

Consideration will also be given to good collaboration skills, drive and independence, as well as how the applicant, through his experience and competence, is judged to complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department and the AMBER program, as well as project partner laboratories and how they should contribute to its future development.

Basis of assessment
This is a qualifying position primarily focused on research. The appointment is intended as an initial step in the career and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their scientific merits and potential as a researcher.
When hiring a postdoctoral fellow, the following must form the basis for assessment:
• Good ability to develop and carry out research of good quality
• Independent thinking and ability to drive own research in the field
• Good cooperation skills

Instructions on how to apply

Instructions on how to apply

For more information and documents/templates/europass link, please visit https://www.ambercofund.eu/for-applicants.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure that you upload all the required documents specified below i-ix.

If you are interested in applying for more than one position (maximum 3) you must be prepared to make a full application for each individual position.

Applications shall be written in English and all documents shall be in pdf format.

1. i) A Curriculum Vitae (europass format). Your CV shall be exported to a PDF file that you use in your application.
2. ii) A detailed research plan including any foreseen secondments (candidates can suggest more than the mandated one, they can also suggest their own secondments), schools and conferences as well as a templated budget plan. (as concise as possible, recommended about 3-5 pages, but at an absolute maximum 10 pages. The research plan should include a half page of summary/abstract.

Additional texts to include in the PDF are:

iii) Letter of Commitment from any additional secondment partners the candidate wishes to bring onboard.

iv) Evidence of English proficiency (minimum CEFR B22, also checked at interview).

v) A draft Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP).

vi) Two reference letters.

vii) Any additional documents to support the application.

viii) Ethical questionnaire (HE ethics checklist + research ethics commitment)

In addition, the application will require:

ix) Any candidate can apply for maximum of 3 positions. You must apply for each individual position. A list with order of preference of positions should be sent to the AMBER management. amber@linxs.s

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