Research Assistant in Molecular Membrane Biology

Transporters are essential membrane proteins responsible for uptake and export of nutrients and metabolites across the biological membrane. However, our understanding of how they work at a molecular level is limited.

This Research Assistant in Molecular Membrane Biology post forms part of a collaborative BBSRC funded project aiming to obtain greater insights into the dynamics of membrane transporters key to their mechanism of action, and how these dynamics are affected by external factors such as substrate and lipid environment. This particular position will be based in the group of Professor Bernadette Byrne (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/b.byrne) in the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London and will be dedicated to the production and isolation of different variants of the eukaryotic transporter, UapA, and reconstitution of this protein into lipid mimetic systems called nanodiscs. These will then be analysed by our collaborators in the group of Dr Argyris Politis, University of Manchester.

This position represents an excellent opportunity to be involved in cutting-edge membrane protein research in two world-leading laboratories.

Duties and responsibilities

The post is funded by the BBSRC to investigate the dynamics of the eukaryotic transporter, UapA, required for the protein to effectively transport protein across the membrane using a combination of Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange-Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) and Molecular Dynamics simulations.

You will work in close collaboration with a PDRA based in Dr Argyris Politis’ lab at Kings College London. You will be responsible for expression and purification of a range of different UapA constructs. This will involve dealing with large culture volumes and temperature sensitive detergent-solubilised protein and reconstituting this into nanodiscs for HDX-MS analysis. You will generate novel mutants as required and assess the stability and suitability of these for further analysis. You will contribute to the smooth running of the laboratory and help to train and support other members of the group as required.

Essential requirements

You will have experience of working in a life science-focused research lab. You will have specific expertise in expression and isolation of proteins. Experience in handling membrane proteins is desirable but not essential. You will have good written and oral communication skills. You will have good time management skills and the ability to work well independently as well as part of a team. You will have the ability to keep meticulous records of the experiments that you carry out.

Further information

This is a full-time, fixed term appointment until 31 August 2024. You will be based at South Kensington Campus.

Should you require any further details on the role please contact: Professor Bernadette Byrne, b.byrne@imperial.ac.uk.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research/

• Job Description Research Assistant.pdf