Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Microbiology

Position Overview

For decades, sphingolipids were thought to be almost exclusively eukaryotic membrane components, with only a handful of unusual bacteria capable of producing them. Our recent discoveries have overturned this view, revealing that sphingolipid biosynthesis is widespread across diverse bacteria. Emerging evidence suggests sphingolipids are key determinants of membrane homeostasis, environmental adaptation, antimicrobial resistance and host pathogen interactions. Yet one of the biggest questions in the field remains unanswered: how are sphingolipids transported across the bacterial cell envelope to reach the cell surface?
We are seeking an ambitious Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the laboratory of Dr Georgia Isom at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, to uncover the molecular machinery that transports sphingolipids to the surface of Gram negative bacteria. This exciting project combines cryo electron microscopy, native mass spectrometry, proteomics, and bacterial cell biology to answer a fundamental question in bacterial membrane biology.

Responsibilities

• Drive the project by combining structural and mechanistic approaches to identify and characterise sphingolipid transport systems.
• Determine high resolution single particle cryo EM structures of sphingolipid transporters.
• Assess sphingolipid transporter interactions and the role of the sphingolipids in membrane homeostasis using a combination of mass spectrometry and cellular electron microscopy methods.

Qualifications

• Hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD in structural biology.
• Have experience of solving high resolution structures using single particle cryo EM.
• Be highly motivated, organised and able to work independently as well as part of a team.