Postdoctoral Research Assistant - UOD1951

Please note: We are actively recruiting for this position and reserve the right to close the advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We encourage interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience.

We are recruiting for an exceptional Structural Biologist/Biophysicist with experience in studying structures of protein complexes to join the group of Professor Alessio Ciulli as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant within the expanding Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) at the University of Dundee.

This position is part of an academic, multi-disciplinary drug discovery team being formed within the Ciulli group, funded by the Cancer Grand Challenges, within KOODAC (cancergrandchallenges.org/teams/koodac). KOODAC’s mission is to discover and develop smallmolecule drugs that degrade key oncogenic drivers of solid tumours in children, as a novel therapeutic paradigm to treat pediatric cancers. The team will develop two types of degraders – proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glue degraders. Both classes of degraders work by recruiting a ubiquitin E3 ligase to a target protein to induce target’s ubiquitination and degradation, leading to cell death. The team will focus on developing degraders for the ALK, DNAJB1::PRKACA, MYCN, EWSR1::FLI1 and PAX3::FOXO1 (or PAX7::FOXO1) oncoproteins, which have been implicated in the development and/or spread of neuroblastoma, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, medulloblastoma, Ewings sarcoma and fusion positive rhabdomyosarcoma, respectively, in children.

The successful candidate will characterise the binding of small molecule ligands and PROTACs/molecular glues to their target proteins and E3 ligase components using structural biology techniques (X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy) and biophysical techniques (FP, TR-FRET, ITC, SPR), to drive the structure- and biophysics guided design of degraders. A particular focus of your work will be on elucidating the structure and binding of degraders’ ternary complexes across the project targets, to drive the structure-guided design of degraders. You will work closely with the Senior Lead Scientist and the other PDRAs within the Team in the Ci ulli Lab, as well as scientists at our collaborating partners of the KOODAC Team to develop a platform for the discovery, characterisation and development of degraders for the oncoproteins of interest.

Candidate Requirements:

• A Ph.D. in structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, chemical/molecular biology, or a related discipline
• Highly experienced in construct design, cloning, protein expression, purification and characterisation.
• Strong experience in structure solution and model refinement via X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM and running biophysical binding assays.
• Outstanding academic and/or industrial track record.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Capable of working in a diverse team, but able to plan and work independently.
• Exceptional time management, organisational and self-motivational skills.
• An open and collaborative approach to science.

Preferred skills:

• Experience with biophysical techniques and assays to study protein interactions are strongly desired.
• Experience with studying of PROTACs and/or molecular glue degraders.
• Experience with studying protein-ligand interactions and structure-based drug design.

This contract is to cover a period of maternity leave. The appointment is made for the period of time where the substantive post holder is wholly or partially on maternity leave and will end on their return subject to appropriate notice. It is anticipated that maternity cover will be required until August 2026. For further information about this role contact Professor Alessio Ciulli at a.ciulli@dundee.ac.uk or Suzanne O’Conner soconnor001@dundee.ac.uk. To find out more about Group please visit the group’s Website.

The Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation is part of a growing Life Sciences Innovation District, an ecosystem of organisations and people within the life sciences sector in Dundee driving innovation and local economic growth. Opened since January 2023, CeTPD is a first of its kind Centre leading a number of internationally significant projects in the burgeoning new area of translational chemical biology and targeted protein degradation. The goal of CeTPD is to innovate a next-generation of small-molecule technology platforms and modalities to advance chemical and biological insights and therapeutic targets related to human diseases. It aspires to achieve this by redefining new models of open collaboration with academic, industrial and venture partners, and by training and inspiring the next-generation of research scientists and leaders.

The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance learning. Family friendly policies, staff networks for BME, Disabled and LGBT staff, membership of Athena SWAN, the ECU Race Equality Charter and Stonewall as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.