Positions 1

PhD position in Structural Biology at the Biozentrum (University of Basel, Switzerland)

Goal : Structural and mechanistic characterization of artificial metalloenzymes. Introduction of a catalytically active metal moiety within a protein scaffold affords artificial metalloenzymes that catalyze a variety of organic transformations. With the aim of understanding the mode of action and further optimizing such man-made enzymes, X-ray crystallography has proven valuable.

The candidate : The ideal candidate has a MSc degree in chemistry, biochemistry or physics, and a strong interest in structural biology. Good communication skills in either English or German are expected. Knowledge of protein crystallography or enzymology would be an advantage. The work is a collaboration between the groups of Prof. T. Schirmer (Biozentrum, [1]) and Prof. T. Ward (Dept. Chemistry, [2]).

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The position should be filled until end of January 2009.

Contact : tilman.schirmer@unibas.ch or thomas.ward@unibas.ch

Reference : Creus et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 1400.