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PhD Position: Targeting the electron transport chain in Listeria monocytogenes for novel antibiotic development

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-born pathogen, able to grow at both low and high temperatures, and causes a serious food poisoning called listeriosis even from properly refrigerated foods. The European Food Safety authority (ESFA) has identified L. monocytogenes as one of three most serious food hazards to public health. Under anaerobic conditions, L. monocytogenes can transfer electrons out of the cell to redox balance its fermentative metabolism. It has been shown that this extracellular electron transport (EET) is important for survival and virulence of L. monocytogenes and hence the proteins involved in EET provide a promising target space for new antibiotics.

In this PhD project, the candidate will join a friendly, creative and interdisciplinary research team that studies the molecular mechanisms of bacterial respiration and develops novel antibiotics. The PhD student will learn and apply a range of biochemical and biophysical approaches to discover the molecular pathway of electron transfer in L. monocytogenes and select inhibitors against selected proteins of this pathway to validate EET as a potential antibiotic target. Besides the cloning, expression and purification of key proteins in the EET pathway, the candidate will develop activity assays to confirm hypothesized functions in oxidoreduction and membrane transport, and use single-particle cryoEM to elucidate the molecular structure, mode of action and inhibition. These results will provide the necessary foundation for future antibiotic development.

The Faculty of Science Leiden and Leiden Institute of Chemistry are looking for a PhD in Targeting the electron transport chain in Listeria monocytogenes for novel antibiotic development

Work and profile
As a PhD student, you will be responsible for developing your own research programme, under the guidance of your PhD supervisors and support of the wider research group.

Essential criteria.

• You have a MSc degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biophysics or related discipline with a focus on and a passion for macromolecular biochemistry;
• You have excellent proficiency in English and the ability to concisely report research progress at team meetings;
• You enjoy working in a team;
• You have experience with protein purification and characterisation.

Desirable skill: Experience in one of the following:

• working with lipids or liposomes;
• working with metalloproteins or oxidoreductases
• working with membrane proteins
• setting up inhibitor screening
• structural biology
  

Description of organisation and terms of employment
This position is available in the Macromolecular Biochemistry and Molecular Physiology groups of the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC). Leiden University is home to the Leiden Early Drug Discovery & Development (LED3) network, which is a partnership between the LIC, the Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL) and the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR). Scientist in LED3 collaborate on the discovery of novel drug targets, molecules and concepts for drug discovery.

We offer a position for twelve months and upon satisfactory performance to be extended for three more years. You will be appointed in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The salary ranges from € 2.770,- to € 3.539,- gross per month, depending on experience (pay scale P).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information, see the website.

Faculty
The Faculty of Science at Leiden University is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelors’ and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,300 staff and over 5,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

University
Leiden University is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.

Thanks to its committed and inspired employees, the university enjoys a leading role in academic research and education. Leiden also scores very well every year in prominent rankings. This means that, to maintain our position, the bar is set very high. Regardless of the work you do at our university, you are always encouraged to broaden your horizons, develop your talents and reach your full potential. Will you become our newest colleague?

Do you have questions about this position? Please contact Prof.dr. Lars Jeuken, l.j.c.jeuken@lic.leidenuniv.nl.

For more information about the recruitment process please contact T.K. Elkerbout, t.k.elkerbout@lic.leidenuniv.nl.

You can find more information about the faculty of Science at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/about-faculty-of-science. For more information about working at Leiden university please visit https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at.

Are you enthusiastic about this vacancy? We are looking forward to get to know you. You can apply using the application button below. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

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