Post doc

Description of the workplace

The membrane protein structural biology group at the Department of Experimental Medical Science is at the forefront of its field. With this position, we aim to deepen our work in understanding the mechanisms of various P-type ATPases. The research group is led by senior lecturer Pontus Gourdon, and we are now seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher with experience in cryo-electron microscopy. Here is a selection of articles recently published by the group (see also tinyurl.com/vc2dsamz):

• Li et al (2024) Nature Communications 15(1):9605
• Augestad et al (2024) Nature 633:704
• Guo et al (2024) Nature Communications 15(1):2690
• Zhang et al (2022) Nature Communications 13(1):7483
• Salustros et al (2022) Nature Communications 13(1):5121
• Li et al (2022) Nature Communications 13(1):4339
• Wiuf et al (2022) Science Advances 8, eabn4331

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University

Work duties and areas of responsibility

The overarching goal of this research program is to uncover the fundamental molecular principles and determinants that orchestrate membrane protein function, particularly how interaction(s) with subunits, auxiliary proteins and/or ions/small molecules (i.e., ‘complexes’) allow or modulate membrane protein function. The intention is to study such phenomena approaching P-type ATPases in general with a focus on transition-metal transporting class IB P-type (PIB-) ATPases, which are cardinal for ion homeostasis. To accomplish this ambitious goal, we will exploit a multidisciplinary strategy centred on structural biological and biochemical methods. The recruited person will perform experimental research with a focus on cryo-EM to understand how P-type ATPases are regulated in normal and pathophysiology.

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 https://www.euraxess.se/jobs/289120

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

Qualifications

Requirements for the position 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.
• You must have a PhD degree within a relevant field (such as in biochemistry).
• Experience of interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.
• You must also fulfill two of the three below-mentioned criteria:
• You must have experience in cloning, production, and purification of membrane proteins.
• You must have experience in structure determination using single-particle cryo-EM, preferably including sample preparation and freezing of protein samples on grids, data collection, data processing, and structural analysis.
• You must have experience in structure determination using X-ray diffraction, preferably including crystal preparation, data collection, data processing, and structural analysis.

How to apply

For more information and documents/templates/europass link, please visit Here

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

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.

1. iv) Evidence of English proficiency (minimum CEFR B22, also checked at interview).
2. v) A draft Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP).
3. vi) Two reference letters.

vii) Any additional documents to support the application.

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

1. ix) A list of publications (in the CV or separately).
2. x) A personal letter justifying your interest in this particular position and how it matches your qualifications (maximum one page).

In addition, the application will require:

1. xi) 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.se

About the employment

The employment is time-limited to a minimum of two years, a maximum of three years according to the collective agreement on limited-time employment as a postdoctoral fellow (according to Collective Agreement). An appointment as a postdoctoral fellow is intended as an initial step in the career and as an opportunity to further deepen and broaden research competence.