Research Fellow in Chemical Biology

Project Title: Designer Chemistry to Probe Supramolecular Assembly Mechanism and Function

Current methods to study supramolecular assembly do not characterise structures in real time and in all atom detail as is needed to understand assembly mechanisms at a structural level. An instantaneous snapshot and analytical method able to separate and characterise individual species within a system in real-time is required to achieve this goal. Moreover the role of transient assembly intermediates in disease is not well understood e.g. in Alzheimer's disease. This will require the development of bespoke chemistry to trap assembly intermediates in order to characterise their molecular and biological properties.

You will join a multidisciplinary team to develop methodology that addresses this challenge. You we will develop a toolkit based upon the rapid and robust photochemistry of diazirines and use it together with state-of-the art advanced mass spectrometry (ion-mobility spectrometry), biochemical assays and cellular studies in mechanistic and functional studies of self-assembly processes using amyloid fibril formation as a model system. The methods will be applied to the Aβ peptide which forms amyloid fibrils and plays a central role in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease; a major global problem.

Further information about the principal investigator’s research may be found at http://www.chem.leeds.ac.uk/People/Wilson.html.

The University of Leeds’ commitment to women in science has been recognised with a national accolade. The University has received the Athena SWAN Bronze Award and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences holds the Athena SWAN Silver Award in recognition of our success in recruiting, retaining and developing/promoting women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).  We are proud of our commitment to equality and inclusiveness.

The University offers generous terms and conditions of employment, a wide range of benefits, services, facilities and family friendly policies. Full details are available on the Human Resources web pages accessible at www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/index.htm

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Andy Wilson, email A.J.Wilson@leeds.ac.uk, tel +44 (0)113 343 1409.

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