Dear CCP4bbers,

I’d be grateful if you could bring this studentship opportunity to the 
attention of any suitable candidates.


Fully-funded 4 year PhD Studentship: Diamond Light Source and University of 
Essex

Time-resolved synchrotron and XFEL crystallography of metalloenzymes using 
anaerobic photocages


Project outline
X-ray crystallography has been the leading method to understand the structure 
and function of proteins and enzymes for decades. Despite this, it has a key 
limitation in that structures are not time-resolved and so do not represent the 
dynamic and changing nature of a protein’s structure as it carries out its 
function or enzymatic reaction. Time-resolved crystallography is one approach 
for capturing structures of reaction intermediates, though for probing fast 
changes approaches are typically limited to light activated processes.

Metalloproteins are vital to a wide range of biological functions and are 
particularly susceptible to site-specific radiation damage, a problem that is 
considerably worse when working at room temperature. Serial sample delivery and 
the use of photocages to trap and trigger reactions offer a means of resolving 
both of the above challenges, making fast time-resolved experiments applicable 
to a wide range of targets.

In this joint studentship between the University of Essex and Diamond Light 
Source you will perform cutting-edge research in the areas of metalloprotein 
structure determination, serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX), and X-ray 
free electron laser (XFEL) data collection to develop approaches for 
time-resolved SSX at Diamond. To this end you will exploit state-of-the-art 
fixed target instrumentation at Diamond and characterise photocages and their 
activation in crystals. Experiments and developments will be carried out using 
metalloproteins prepared by you at the University of Essex. There will also be
the opportunity to carry out experimental work at the SACLA XFEL in Japan.

You will spend approximately half of the studentship based at the University of 
Essex and half based at Diamond.

We are looking for an exceptional and highly motivated candidate with a good 
Undergraduate or Masters degree in a relevant subject including Life Sciences, 
Physics or Chemistry. A willingness to travel to carry out experimental work at 
international facilities is essential. Start date October 2019.

This interdisciplinary project offers exceptional training opportunities in the 
rapidly developing field of serial and time-resolved structural biology. Full 
training in all required methodology will be provided. The University of Essex 
Proficio scheme offers an extensive range of training courses in transferable 
skills.

Applications should be submitted electronically by the 8th April 2019 see here 
for details 
https://www.essex.ac.uk/pgapply/enter.aspx<https://www.findaphd.com/common/clickCount.aspx?theid=106337&type=184&DID=2363&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.essex.ac.uk%2fpgapply%2fenter.aspx>
 and should state the project title and supervisors. Potential applicants are 
strongly encouraged to informally contact the supervisors in advance: Dr Mike 
Hough (maho...@essex.ac.uk; 
https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/hough20300/mike-hough<https://www.findaphd.com/common/clickCount.aspx?theid=106337&type=184&DID=2363&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.essex.ac.uk%2fpeople%2fhough20300%2fmike-hough>)
 or Dr Robin Owen (robin.o...@diamond.ac.uk; 
https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Instruments/Mx/I24/Staff/Owen.html<https://www.findaphd.com/common/clickCount.aspx?theid=106337&type=184&DID=2363&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.diamond.ac.uk%2fInstruments%2fMx%2fI24%2fStaff%2fOwen.html>)

For general information about the School of Biological Sciences at the 
University of Essex please visit our webpages 
http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/<https://www.findaphd.com/common/clickCount.aspx?theid=106337&type=184&DID=2363&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.essex.ac.uk%2fbs%2f>.
 For information regarding macromolecular crystallography beamlines at Diamond 
please visit 
https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Instruments/Mx<https://www.findaphd.com/common/clickCount.aspx?theid=106337&type=184&DID=2363&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.diamond.ac.uk%2fInstruments%2fMx>
Funding Notes

This is a fully-funded 4-year PhD Studentship covering Home/EU fees and with an 
enhanced stipend.
Please note: International students need to have additional funding to cover 
the difference in tuition fees which is currently £12,410 per year, evidence 
will be requested that you have these additional funds.

Further details are here:
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/time-resolved-synchrotron-and-xfel-crystallography-of-metalloenzymes-using-anaerobic-photocages/?p106337\<https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/time-resolved-synchrotron-and-xfel-crystallography-of-metalloenzymes-using-anaerobic-photocages/?p106337%5C>

Many thanks!

Mike




Dr Michael Hough
Senior Lecturer in Structural Biology
School of Biological Sciences
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester
CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom
Phone number: +44 1206 87 3317
http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/staff/profile.aspx?ID=2216
https://twitter.com/mikehough73


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