Postdoctoral Research Scientist in HIV - Host Interactions

The Division of Structural Biology is looking for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in HIV - Host Interactions to join Professor Zhang's lab in developing and applying cutting-edge cryoEM technologies (including cryoEM SPA and cryoET subtomogram averaging) to determine in situ structures of HIV-1 capsid and in complex with host proteins to decipher their functional roles.

You will be responsible for managing the project day-to-day, including both design and action of strategies in molecular biology, protein expression and purification, structural studies using SPA cryoEM, cryoFIB/SEM, cryoET and other appropriate methods. The project requires close management, the co-ordination of different strands within the programme and the meeting of deadlines. You will use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment, and act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group on scientific protocols and experimental techniques. You may act in a co-supervisory role towards graduate students associated with the research programme. You will also test hypotheses and analyse scientific data from a variety of sources, reviewing and refining working hypotheses as appropriate.

It is essential that you hold a PhD/DPhil (or close to completion) in structural and functional studies of virus infections or other relevant subject, and have research experience in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and SPA cryoEM structure determination. You will have research experience in in situ structural biology including cryoET STA, possibly cryoFIB/SEM, cryoCLEM, as well as a good publication record, with documented examples of recent work at the level of first author publication in a leading refereed journal. Programming or scripting skills would be highly desirable.

This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract until the 31 January 2027 and is funded by The National Institutes of Health and Wellcome.