PhD Position (Starting March 2012). Peptide Chemistry and/or Structural Biology.
School of Chemical Sciences and School of Biological Sciences.
PhD Position (Starting March 2012) Peptide Chemistry and/or Structural Biology
School of Chemical Sciences and School of Biological Sciences
A PhD studentship supported by the Marsden Fund is available under the supervision of Dr Paul Harris and Prof Margaret Brimble, in the area of peptide chemistry. This project will also involve structural biology under the supervision of Prof Ted Baker and Dr Chris Squire. Proteins are the “working molecules” of life, orchestrating a remarkable diversity of processes with extraordinary specificity. The ability to define their three‐ dimensional structures at atomic resolution transforms our understanding of the spatial and chemical basis of protein function opening up new opportunities in biotechnology and medicine. We plan to implement racemic protein crystallography using the enantiomer of the target protein which will be prepared from D‐amino acids by chemical synthesis. The use of native chemical ligation methods, whereby shorter peptides are stitched together, provides a powerful tool to execute the total chemical synthesis of proteins. Importantly, unnatural amino acids or non‐proteogenic components can readily be incorporated, allowing the properties of the protein to be re‐engineered for downstream applications. Prospective candidates should have a strong BSc (Hons) or MSc background in organic synthesis/peptide chemistry and/or structural biology with good organisation and communication skills. An interest in medicinal chemistry, or pharmacology would be an advantage, but is not essential. Expressions of Interest
Interested candidates should submit a CV and academic transcript by email to Prof Margaret Brimble (
[email protected]) School of Chemical Sciences and School of Biological Sciences The University of Auckland
