Post-doctoral / PhD student position

A post-doctoral position is open in my group studying the structure and function of Plasmodium actin and its regulatory proteins at the Faculty for Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu. An excellent PhD student candidate may also be considered.

Plasmodium and related apicomplexan parasites move by the means of gliding motility, which is actin-dependent and does not involve specialized organelles or notable changes in cell shape. Apicomplexa are primitive protozoan eukaryotes, and their actin and its regulatory system differ significantly from those of higher eukaryotes. Although many of the components of the molecular motor responsible for generating the force for gliding are known, the structure and mechanism of this motor are still enigmatic. We aim to determine the structure and mechanism of the apicomplexan gliding motor at the molecular/atomic level. We expect the results to give insight into the evolution of actin-based cell motility and also enable identification of drug/vaccine targets against malaria. Several lines of research are ongoing in the group, and the exact project will be agreed on with the successful candidate.

We use a wide selection of structural biology methods (X-ray crystallography, SAXS, cryo-EM) as well as biochemistry and biophysics. Some experience and/or basic knowledge and keen interest in these methods is expected. The successful candidate should also be experienced in basic methods of molecular biology and protein expression and purification from bacterial and eukaryotic expression systems.

Recent publications from the project:

Vahokoski J, Bhargav SP, Desfosses A, Andreadaki M, Kumpula EP, Muñico Martinez S, Ignatev A, Lepper S, Frischknecht F, Sidén-Kiamos I, Sachse C & Kursula I (2014) Structural differences explain diverse functions of Plasmodium actins. PLoS Pathog, 10: e1004091. PMID: 24743229

Salamun J, Kallio JP, Daher W, Soldati-Favre D & Kursula I (2014) Structure of Toxoplasma gondii coronin - an actin-binding protein that relocalizes to the posterior pole of invasive parasites and contributes to invasion and egress. FASEB J, in press. PMID: 25114175

More information can be found on our website: www.desy.de/~inari/labhttp://www.desy.de/~inari/lab

The position is available for 3 years from 1.1.2015, and applications will be considered until a suitable candidate has been identified. Applications and informal inquiries should be sent by e-mail to inari.kursula@oulu.fimailto:inari.kursula@oulu.fi. As some special conditions from the funder's side apply for this position, interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact me before sending an application. The application should contain a cover letter describing your reasons/motivation for applying for this position and your expertise, a CV, and the names and contact details of 2-3 referees.