Postdoc positions

We are looking to recruit an outstanding early career researcher who wishes to develop their own independent research program in the lab. While our lab is multidisciplinary with respect to experimental systems, the candidate will be expected to develop a project focused on the study of protein complexes essential for transcriptional regulation and RNA biology. Monash University and the EMBL-Australia program provide excellent infrastructure and resources. Outstanding applicants will be offered a supreme research environment and a competitive postdoctoral fellowship. The position will best suit self-driven individuals who, in the long run, wish to pursue a career as independent researchers. We are interested in candidates with a background in either analytical chemistry and biochemistry, structural biology or molecular and cell biology:

 

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Postdoc position #1: Analytical Chemistry or Biochemistry

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The project: We are seeking a postdoctoral research fellow to develop methods for the analysis and production of modified RNA and modified nucleotides. While working on the project, the successful candidate will be encouraged to learn and implement methods in synthetic biology, genome modification and protein engineering together with enzymatic approaches for the production of modified RNA and to develop multi-step liquid chromatographic workflows for their purification. The intended outcome of the project would be twofold: (1) New approaches for the production of modified nucleotides as new building blocks for RNA therapeutics and biotechnology applications. (2) New methods for the detection and quantification of modified nucleotides in RNA and in biological samples.

 

Environment and resources: The successful candidate will be given access to supreme mass spectrometry platforms and will be encouraged to utilise and develop technology in mass spectrometry, including MS/MS of RNA, metabolomics of nucleotides and crosslinking mass spectrometry of protein-RNA complexes. The successful candidate will have access to tools of synthetic biology in the host lab, including workflows that were already established for the genetic modification of yeast strains and the expression and purification of recombinant enzymes and enzymatic complexes. Full access will be given to research platforms in Monash university, including LC-MS/MS, metabolomics mass spectrometry, GC-MS, NMR, imaging, bioinformatics and high-performance computing (HPC) server for data analysis. 

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The candidate: The successful candidate would be qualified with at least some of the following: 

• Sound knowledge and track record of using applications of analytical chemistry for the study of small organic compounds, or small biological molecules or polymers.

• Sound knowledge and track record in the development of multi-step HPLC approaches for analytical and semi-preparative applications.

• Sound knowledge and demonstrated experience in mass spectrometry approach for the analysis of biological compounds. 

• An ability to develop their own research program within their lab and track record demonstrating that they have already developed a research project elsewhere, from an idea to maturation.

• The incumbent should be willing to learn and apply approaches for the expression and purification of recombinant proteins, although prior experience is not required.

• The incumbent should be willing to work in a collegiate manner within an interdisciplinary team.

 
Highly advantageous expertise (but not required):

• Experience in developing analytical methods while utilizing MS/MS or metabolomics is highly advantageous.

• Demonstrated experience working with nucleic acids or nucleotides is not required but is highly advantageous.

• Demonstrated experience in isolating and analysing biological molecules and compounds from cells is highly advantageous.

• Demonstrated experience using NMR for applications of analytical chemistry is not required but is advantageous.

• Some limited prior experience with multi-step FPLC purification of recombinant proteins or nucleic acids is not required but is advantageous.

• Demonstrated experience in synthetic biology approaches, especially using yeast, is advantageous.

 

How to apply: A formal job application will soon be open, in the meanwhile please email Chen (Chen.Davidovich@monash.edu) with your CV and cover letter.

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Postdoc position #2: Molecular and Cell Biology

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The project: the successful candidate will lead a project aiming to determine how histone modifiers maintain genes in an off-state during development — a process often referred to as 'epigenetic repression'. Specifically, the project will aim to understand how the robustness of epigenetic repression is achieved at the molecular level, to what extent it is essential in order to maintain cell identity and how it is dysregulated in disease.

 

Environment and resources: the successful candidate will have funding and access to utilise and develop cutting-edge technology, including single-cell RNA sequencing, forward genetic screens (including CRISPR screens), mass spectrometry-based proteomics, electron cryotomography and genome editing combined with functional assays and standard genomic applications as ChIP-seq, CUT&Tag, CUT&RUN, HiC, ATAC-seq and RNA-seq. The successful candidate will have access to world-class research platforms at Monash University and High-Performance Computing (HPC) server for data analysis. This study will complement other ongoing studies in the lab — led by other scientists — including structure determination of macromolecular complexes of epigenetic modifiers and chromatin using high-resolution cryo-EM and electron cryotomography, and quantitative biophysical and biochemical functional assays.

 

The candidate: we are looking for a highly motivated cell or molecular biologist with an outstanding publication track record in studying transcriptional regulation and who is capable and willing to develop their own research program within the lab. Required experience:

 

Must have

• Hands-on experience with methods to study transcription and/or epigenetic regulation using mammalian cell cultures, including the implementation of next-generation sequencing techniques. Ideally, these would include some of the following methods: RT-qPCR, RNA-seq, ChIP-qPCR, ChIP-seq, CUT&Tag, CUT&RUN, iCLIP/PAR-CLIP, RIP, IP, IP with MS.

• Hands-on experience in the generation of constructs and stable cell lines for the study of transcription regulation or epigenetics in cells. Ideally, these would include the utilization of genome-editing approaches using CRISPR-Cas9 for knock-out, knock-in and rescue experiments.

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Advantageous (but not required)

• Experience with forward genetic screens in mammalian cells is advantageous.

• Experience in imaging mammalian cells using either cryo-electron tomography, immunofluorescence microscopy or live-cell imaging is advantageous.

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Postdoc position #3: Structural Biology

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We are looking for a highly motivated scientist that is fully independent and have an excellent track record in order to study the structural basis for epigenetic repression. We are developing methods for the reconstruction and for a structure-function study of chromatin and large epigenetic modifier complexes in vitro and in situ. We have on-site access to a state-of-the-art cryo-EM facility at Monash University including Titan Krios and Talos Arctica electron microscopes and a focused ion beam (FIB) instrument, advanced mass spectroscopy facility, high-performance computing (HPC) clusters and we are located just across the road from the Australian Synchrotron: a walking distance from world-class beamlines for X-ray crystallography and SAXS. 

 

Required experience in structural biology:

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Must have:

• Extensive experience with structural biology applications of X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM for either single-particle structure determination or electron cryotomography.

• Extensive experience with the development of methods for the expression and purification of large multi-subunit macromolecule complexes for structure determination.

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Advantageous (but not required):

• Experience with the structural, biophysical or biochemical study of complexes of proteins with cofactors as RNA, DNA and/or nucleosomes.

• Experience with approaches that can complement high-resolution structure determination, such as SAXS, cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS), analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) or hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS).