Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research offer PhD student position
on May 14th, 2011The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ is a
research institution within the Helmholtz Association. It provides scientific
contributions to the safeguarding of the natural basis of life and of human
development potentialities for current and future generations under the
challenges of global and climate change. In this way the UFZ contributes
towards a sustainable development.
Starting on the 1st of March 2011, the Department of Proteomics at the
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research is offering a
3 year PhD student position (m/f) for species determination of biting midgets
and detection of blue tongue virus using mass spectrometric analyses
The successful candidate will work on the classification of different species
/ subgenera of biting midgets (genus Culicoides), some of which have been
identified as vectors for a serious disease in livestock caused by the
Bluetongue virus (BTB). The aim of the project is to establish mass
spectrometry (MS) databases of peptides and small proteins that allow
species identification in a manner complimentary to PCR-based assays. One
part of the project will focus on species identification based on the
spectral patterns of small proteins extracted from whole insects (intact
protein profiling, IPP) via MALDI-MS. A second approach will deal with the
analysis of peptides obtained by proteolysis of the insects’ proteome and
establishing identities and detection parameters for species-specific
peptides. In order to be able to detect the signature of the respective
peptides within the complex mixtures, this part will be performed using a
high resolution nano-HPLC system coupled to a very sensitive hybrid triple
quadrupole-linear ion trap instrument (QTrap MS). A third part of the
project deals with the detection of capsid proteins of BTV and will use them
for detecting virus-carrying midgets.
We are searching for a highly motivated, reliable person with a diligent
workstyle who is interested in method development and fine tuning in the
context of a project that aims to establish an application for
identification of disease vectors relevant to animal health using
state-of-the-art MS technologies.
The successful candidate will be working in a highly interdisciplinary
research environment of biologists, chemists and biochemists with
excellently equipped facilities (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS, QTrap MS, ion trap MS,
LTQ Orbitrap MS – the latter ones being coupled with nano-HPLC systems).
The ideal candidate has a background in proteomics / mass spectrometry and
in entomology. Handling and analysis of MS data using dedicated software
packages will constitute a major part of the project, hence, a general
competence in the use of computers and experience with standard software
(e.g. MS Office) are required. Further experience in the area of
bioinformatics, in the handling of large data sets or in protein chemistry is
a plus.
The place of work is the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research,
Leipzig, Germany. Salary will be according to the appropriate civil service
level TVöD (65 %). Funding is available for 36 months. The UFZ is an equal
opportunity employer; women are explicitly encouraged to apply. Physically
handicapped persons will be favoured if they are equally qualified.
Applicants must hold a Master degree or diploma in biology, biochemistry or
chemistry. They should be fluent in either English or German; however, basic
communication skills in English are required.
Scientific information can be provided by:
Dr. Ralph Feltens, phone: +49-341-2351352, e-mail: Ralph.Feltens@ufz.de or
PD Dr. Martin von Bergen phone: +49-341-2351211, e-mail:
Martin.vonBergen@ufz.dePlease send your application until the 31th of May
2011 under the code 69/2011 to the Personnel Department of the
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, PO Box 500136, D-04301 Leipzig,
Germany, or by e-mail to application@ufz.de.
0 comments:
Post a Comment