Duration: 3.5 years
Funding: Imperial College London / MRC
Stipend: £17,500 (tax free) for the first year, and annual increases thereafter
Duplication of the genome is an extraordinarily complex process,
involving a large number of enzymes and an intricate regulatory
network to promote faithful DNA replication. Errors during DNA
replication have far reaching consequences and are responsible for
several diseases, most notably cancers. The complexity of the DNA
replication machinery means that only now we are beginning to
understand how individual proteins promote replisome assembly and DNA
replication.
The objective of our group is to understand how eukaryotes initiate
DNA replication. To do this we have recently developed a
reconstituted system that recapitulates specific steps during
initiation of DNA replication in vitro. The candidate will have the
opportunity to use this system to analyse functions of the proteins
involved in the initiation process, to identify novel interacting
proteins by mass-spectrometry and determine the structures of the
protein complexes using electron microscopy in partnership with
collaborators. Using an in vitro DNA replication system, in
combination with functional assays and structural analysis is a
powerful approach to uncover the functions of the proteins and to
address very important questions in initiation of eukaryotic DNA
replication.
Our work involves the use of modern biochemical, molecular biology,
structural and genetic approaches. We use Saccharomyces cerevisiae
for our work, which is an excellent model organism, since all the
important replication proteins are conserved between yeast and
humans. Our friendly team consists of postdoctoral fellows and
students. Due to the medium size of the group plenty of interaction
with the lab-head is possible. The institute is equipped with state
of the art equipment and provides a high profile research environment.
Your qualifications:
- Broad knowledge of biochemical and molecular methods
- Experience in protein purification is an advantage and genuine
interest in an academic career is a must
- MSc or equivalent degree in biology, biochemistry or a
related discipline with an overall grade of at least "good"
- Good knowledge in English
Please download your application form from:
http://www.csc.mrc.ac.uk/Jobs/PhDStudentship/Apply/
The application deadline is December 15th!
This studentship is available for 3.5 years (UK and EU only) and will
commence in October 2011. Exceptions for this start date are
negotiable.
For more information on the group, visit:
http://dnareplication.csc.mrc.ac.uk
For more information on the institute and the PhD program, visit:
http://www.csc.mrc.ac.uk/
Selected publications:
Evrin, C., Clarke, P., Zech, J., Lurz, R., Sun, J., Uhle, S., Li, H.,
Stillman, B., Speck, C. (2009). A double-hexameric MCM2-7 complex is
loaded onto origin DNA during licensing of eukaryotic DNA replication.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106, 20240-20245.
Speck, C. & Stillman, B. (2007). Cdc6 ATPase activity regulates ORC-
Cdc6 stability and the selection of specific DNA sequences as origins
of DNA replication. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 282, 11705-11714.
Speck, C., Chen, Z., Li, H. & Stillman, B. (2005). ATPase-dependent
cooperative binding of ORC and Cdc6 to origin DNA. Nature Structural &
Molecular Biology 12, 965-971.