Job Description

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in structural biology? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

 We are seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral scientist to join the group of Dr Jennifer Tomlinson to work on understanding the allosteric mechanism of resistance to the antibiotic fusidic acid. This is a BBSRC funded position within the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology and Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds. You will join a multidisciplinary team working to understand mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health threat. We seek to understand mechanisms of antibiotic resistance at the molecular level. Fusidic acid is one of the few remaining orally administered antibiotics that is active against MRSA but resistance is increasing due to rising prevalence of the resistance protein FusB. FusB binding to the drug target (EF-G) relieves fusidic acid induced stalling of protein synthesis via an allosterically induced effect on the dynamics of EF-G. We now seek to further characterise this mechanism of resistance to identify key regions controlling the effect that could indicate potential targets for inhibitor development.

Your role will be to use a combination of NMR spectroscopy, ITC, HD-exchange mass spectrometry and biochemical techniques to determine the effects of mutations throughout EF-G on FusB induced resistance to identify key regions controlling the resistance mechanism. You must have a PhD (or close to completion) in Structural Biology or a closely allied discipline, with experience in NMR spectroscopy and protein expression and purification

The University of Leeds and the Faculty of Biological Sciences are committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offer a range of family friendly policies. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN (the national body that promotes gender equality in higher education), and the Faculty of Biological Sciences was awarded a Silver award in 2020.  We are proud to be an inclusive Faculty that values all staff, and are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees. Our Athena SWAN webpage provides more information. 

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

 Dr. Jennifer Tomlinson, Royal Society Research Fellow

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 0991, email: j.h.tomlinson@leeds.ac.uk