Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University

Two postdoctoral fellowships to study the function of Mediator in S. cerevisiae and A. thaliana

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, is looking for two postdoctoral fellows for 2 years to study the molecular mechanisms of Mediator in yeast stress responses (Project 1) and the composition of the Mediator Complex in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to various types of stress (Project 2). The research group is part of the Chemical Biological Center (https://www.umu.se/en/kbc) and is affiliated to the Umeå Plant Science Center (https://www.upsc.se); two stimulating research environments at Umeå University. We are looking for motivated candidates to do research within the project “Evolutionarily conserved mechanisms for stress that converge on Mediator and chromatin structure” funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.

Project description

Mediator is an evolutionarily preserved multiprotein complex that is essential for transcriptional regulation and plays an important role in the acclimatization of plants to stress. Mediator integrates external signals from different receptors and signal transduction pathways, by transmitting signals from promoter-bound transcription factors to RNA polymerase II (Pol II), leading to a balanced transcriptional stress response. Mediator is also involved in structural changes in chromatin structure. Several aspects of the function of the Mediator are still unknown, in particular questions about how specific Mediator subunits integrate different signaling pathways and how they transmit these signals to Pol II to regulate the expression of specific target genes. To understand the regulatory mechanisms of Mediator and to define plant stress response at several organizational levels, we will construct a holistic model of plant stress response to generate a dynamic and overall model of the signaling networks that control plant and yeast stress responses.

The two postdoctoral projects are part of a larger interdisciplinary project, “Evolutionarily preserved mechanisms for stress that converge on Mediator and chromatin structure”. The projects provide the opportunity for a challenging postdoctoral training where you will solve problems by using methods from biology and physics, use advanced technical platforms in the environment and by conducting research with other scientists and students in a dynamic and multidisciplinary environment.

Project 1: Postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular mechanisms of Mediator in yeast stress responses (Ref. no. AN 2.2.1-835-21, https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:405923/)

The specific project for this position refers to studies of structural and molecular mechanisms of the transcriptional coactivator Mediator to gain increased knowledge about how transcriptional regulation in response to different types of stress is controlled via the Mediator Complex in Yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The tasks include:

•molecular biological and biochemical techniques such as cloning, expression and purification of proteins from S. cerevisiae;

•analysis of how the Mediator complex in S. cerevisiae binds to chromatin in a global perspective and how this binding change in response to stress;

•identification of other proteins and protein complexes with which the Mediator complex interacts in chromatin.

Qualifications

The candidate has a doctoral degree or equivalent in biochemistry or a related discipline. Eligible to be employed as a postdoctoral fellow is a person who has completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree that corresponds to a doctoral degree. The degree should not be older than three years before the end of the application period. If there are special reasons, a candidate may be considered even if the doctoral degree is older than three years.

Practical experience of protein purification and different types of global methods for studying gene expression and interaction of proteins with chromatin, for example, RNAseq and ChIP-seq, both in terms of the laboratory steps and bioinformatics analysis is a requirement. Applicants must also have previous experience of working with S. cerevisiae as a model organism. Experience in working with transcription and transcription factors is a requirement. Previous experience of cloning, expression and purification of recombinant proteins in E. coli is an advantage.

The applicant must also have the ability to do research independently as well as in groups. Good knowledge of the English language is important.

Project 2: Postdoctoral fellowship in Composition of Mediator in Arabidopsis thaliana in stress responses (Ref. no. AN 2.2.1-836-21, https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:405980/)

The general composition of Mediator is relatively well evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotic cells, from yeast to humans. However, it is still unclear whether its composition is static or whether modules and individual subunits are rearranged in response to different types of stress. The candidate will use a combination of biochemical and structural methods to investigate whether the composition and function of Mediator in A. thaliana changes in response to stress signaling.

The tasks include:

•generation of A. thaliana cell lines expressing epitope-tagged versions of various mediator subunits;

•generation of A. thaliana cell lines lacking various mediator subunits;

•biochemical purification of the mediator complex from the above cell lines after application of different types of stress;

•structural determination of the mediator complex purified from the above cell lines after application of different types of stress using cryo-electron microscopy.

Qualifications

The candidate must have a doctoral degree or equivalent in biochemistry or a related discipline. Eligible to be employed as a postdoctoral fellow is a person who has completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree that corresponds to a doctoral degree. The degree should not be older than three years before the end of the application period. If there are special reasons, a candidate may be considered even if the doctoral degree is older than three years.

We are looking for highly motivated applicants with experience working with Arabidopsis thaliana. The applicant must also have documented experience of generating and characterizing different types of Arabidopsis mutants, extensive laboratory experience using molecular and biochemical methods, of different types of biochemical purification of proteins, of work with abiotic and/or biotic stress in Arabidopsis. Experience in purifying large protein complexes is an advantage. Previous experience of working with cryo-EM is an advantage.

The applicant must also have the ability to do research independently as well as in groups. Good knowledge of the English language is important.

Application

The application must contain:

•A letter describing your scientific background (max. an A4 page),

•A CV with a complete list of publications,

•Copies of relevant diplomas,

•Names and contact details of at least two reference persons.

The application must be received via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi (https://umu.varbi.com/en/) at the latest on 27th of June 2021. We welcome your application!

Terms

The employment is full-time and limited in time to 24 months. Access from October 1st 2021, or by agreement.

Information

For further information about this project, please contact Stefan Björklund at stefan.bjorklund@umu.se.

About the employer

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest institutions of higher education with over 35,000 students and 4,200 faculty and staff. We are characterised by world-leading research in several scientific fields and a multitude of educations ranked highly in international comparison. Umeå University is also the site of the pioneering discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors – a revolution in genetic engineering that has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

At Umeå University, everything is nearby. Our cohesive campus environment makes it easy to meet, collaborate and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture where we rejoice in each other’s successes.

The Faculty of Medicine, which consists of 13 departments, is responsible for biomedical research and courses in the field of nursing and health care and has an extensive research and graduate education in more than 80 subjects.

Umeå University wants to offer an equal environment where open dialogue between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity and development. We welcome people with different backgrounds and experiences to apply for the current employment.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising help.

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