National University of Singapore

Job Description:

Job Description

The Mechanobiology Institute (MBI), National University of Singapore is a leading multi-disciplinary institute devoted to developing new paradigms for understanding biological functions in health and diseases from the perspective of cell, tissue and organ mechanics/dynamics and mechano-signal transduction. The institute operates on a fully integrated open-lab philosophy, with an extensive infrastructure supported by core facilities dedicated to technology such as state-of-the-art light microscopy, nano- and micro- fabrication, and computing.

The MBI is inviting applications for a Research Fellow to join the group of Dr Alphée Michelot. The selected candidate will work on a project that aims to investigate the relationship between cellular energy availability and actin cytoskeleton dynamics. The selected candidate will use in vitro methods with recombinant proteins to understand how actin assembly dynamics respond to changes in ATP and ADP concentrations in the presence or absence of regulatory factors.

A key element of this project will be the candidate's ability to effectively alternate between experiments and modelling or in silico simulations to understand the molecular mechanisms under investigation. For more information on the methods used, see "A functional family of fluorescent nucleotide analogues to investigate actin dynamics and energetics" by Colombo, Antkowiak et al, Nature Communications, 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20827-4.

The MBI provides a state-of-the-art core facility for protein purification, micro/nano-fabrication for biological applications and imaging that will fully support the needs of this project.

Responsibilities

• Design new experimental protocols, perform scientific experiments
• Purify and fluorescently label proteins to image protein-protein interactions at the single molecule level in TIRF microscopy
• Analyze scientific experiments with appropriate tools and models, and perform detailed statistical analysis
• Collaborate with other team members and present at regular lab meetings in English
• Write scientific papers

Requirements

• A PhD in physics, materials science, engineering or related disciplines, with at least one first author publication or pre-print
• Excellent bench lab experience
• Strong experience in optical microscopy (bright field, fluorescence)
• Good knowledge of simulation/modelling/data analysis using programming software(s), such as Python, R, etc.
• Documented experience in designing and optimizing microfabricated devices for biological studies is considered a plus
• Ability to analyze existing literature to pose innovative and interesting scientific questions

Salary and benefits are commensurable to educational qualifications and working experience of the candidates.

To Apply

Interested candidates should apply online at the link below and submit the following in their application:

1. CV with the names and contacts (with email addresses) of two referees, including their PhD advisor
2. Academic Transcripts (in a single document)
3. Personal Statement that includes their professional goals and their motivation for joining the lab and the MBI

Direct enquiries about the position can be sent to alphee@nus.edu.sg. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Mechanobiology Institute

Department : Research

Employee Referral Eligible: No

Job requisition ID : 28326