Postdoctoral Fellow - In situ structural biology of SARM1

Postdoctoral Fellow - In situ structural biology of SARM1

Location: Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell, UK

Competitive Salary, Bonus & Benefits Package

Do you have expertise in, and passion for, cryo-EM and in situ structural biology? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration through in situ structural biology, with a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines together with an Institute pushing the boundaries of science and technology?

For many therapeutic targets we can learn a tremendous amount of detailed molecular information on purified samples through structural and biophysical techniques which often guide and inform medicinal chemistry. However, these targets physiologically operate in the complex environment of cells and tissues. We need to extend our understanding of molecular complexity to cells and tissues and the emerging method of in situ cryo-EM has huge potential.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centred biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work and empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit.

About our Postdoc Programme

Bring your expertise, apply your knowledge, follow the science, and make a difference. AstraZeneca’s Postdoc Programme is for self-motivated individuals looking to deliver exciting projects in an encouraging, engaging, and innovative environment. You'll work with multidisciplinary scientific teams from a diverse set of backgrounds and a world-class academic mentor specifically aligned to your project. Our postdocs are respected as specialists, encouraged to speak up, and supported to share their research at conferences, publish papers, achieve their goals.

Make a more meaningful impact in your career, with greater ownership and accountability to make a contribution whilst making a difference to the lives of our patients!

This is a 3-year programme.

About the Opportunity

This position is a collaboration between AstraZeneca R&D and the Structural Biology Group at the Rosalind Franklin Institute.

Discovery Sciences within AstraZeneca Biopharmaceuticals R&D applies deep technical expertise in specialist technologies to support the delivery of targets and molecules to the early AstraZeneca pipeline. Targets are identified through our human genomics and functional genomics efforts, employing the latest technologies in genome editing and advanced cell model development. Once identified and validated, we work with therapy area project teams to identify novel small molecule effectors of these targets using our integrated sample management and platform screening groups. The Cryo-EM team within Discovery Sciences is playing an increasing role in SBDD across therapeutic areas.

The work at the Rosalind Franklin Institute is driven by a clear aim of making transformative leaps forward in life science. We achieve unique insights by developing new instruments, creating new ways of working and integrating previously disparate approaches. Utilising our new tools, we will image, interpret and intervene in biological systems. These insights will speed up the discovery of new medicines, help find new diagnostics, push forward microbial and plant science and contribute to a deeper understanding of human health and disease. In our next five years we will apply and combine our novel technologies in adventurous ways to push atomic resolution, mechanistic understanding and control into cells, tissues, organs and organisms.

Project Focus

We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the in situ structural biology of SARM1, a prime clinical candidate for neuronal degradation, using the latest focussed ion beam and cryo-EM techniques. The goal of the project is to see the structural chemistry of SARM1 in cells, including bound ligands.

What You’ll Do

You will be an enthusiastic individual with a PhD in a relevant field, or due to complete within 6 months, with a strong background in cryo-EM, preferably with FIB experience.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Research, design and implement innovative preparation of cell lines for in situ structural biology of SARM1 by cryo-EM
• Innovative high resolution data collection and image processing of in situ samples by 2D and 3D methods
• Lead and drive the project under the supervision of Kasim Sader, Vijay Chandrasekar and Michael Grange
• Plan, write, publish, and present high-quality scientific papers
• Participate in function and department activities in AstraZeneca, learn about drug discovery and development processes and get exposure to new scientific advances

Qualification, Skills & Experience

Essential Requirements

• Cryo-EM experience, including image processing with 3D reconstruction.
• Strong desire to become an in situ structural biology expert

Our Postdoc programme is aimed at individuals with a strong publication record who are either:

• Within 5-years of obtaining their doctoral degree (PhD, DVM, or MD) - PhD already awarded, or
• Students, soon to obtain doctoral degrees (the PhD must be awarded within 6 months of joining AstraZeneca).

Desirable Requirements

• Experience with focussed ion beam operation (FIB) and plasma FIB
• Vitrification of cells
• Experience in working in large, cross-disciplinary teams

Why AstraZeneca

The unique positioning of this postdoc within a pharmaceutical company such as AZ, means that you will be able to access large datasets which are not available in the public domain. Moreover, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that methods and techniques you develop will not only be published but will also be used within AZ after the postdoc position concludes, in real-life projects - and that ultimately the work you do will directly impact patients’ lives!

On-Site Working

The position is located at the Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell.

Next Steps

If your passion is science and you want to be part of a team that makes a bigger impact on patients’ lives, then there’s no better place to be.

This advert will be running from 4th September 2024 and, we welcome your application as soon as possible, but ahead of the scheduled closing date of 3rd October 2024. In the event, that we identify suitable candidates ahead of the scheduled closing date, we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than published.