Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biology

A post-doctoral position is available to explore the biotechnological applications of bactericidal type IV secretion systems in the laboratory of Professor Chuck Farah at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of São Paulo (IQ-USP), Brazil.

Bacteria use nanomachines to transport macromolecules (proteins or DNA) across the bacterial cell envelope. Many Xanthomonadales, Burkholderales, and Neisseriales species carry a type IV secretion system (X-T4SS) specialized in translocating effector proteins (X-Tfes) into other Gram-negative species, during bacterial interspecies warfare. Understanding the molecular details of how these secretion systems recognize substrates for translocation opens up interesting possibilities for their control as well as the design of new biotechnological tools for the delivery of engineered effectors against targeted pathogens.

Studies will be carried out within the scope of the Biology of Bacteria and Bacteriophages Research Center (CEPID B³), a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (CEPID in the Portuguese-language acronym) supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and hosted by IQ-USP under leadership of Prof. Chuck Farah.

Candidates should hold a PhD degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Physics, Biotechnology, Protein Engineering or related areas. Previous experience in molecular biology, protein expression and purification, structural biology and/or fluorescence microscopy are desired.

Applications should be submitted until March 31, 2024, accompanied by:

- A short CV with a link to Google Scholar, ResearchID or ORCID profiles;
- A letter of motivation;
- Two letters of recommendation.

This opportunity is open to candidates of any nationality. The selected candidate will receive a FAPESP Post-Doctoral fellowship in the amount of R$ 9,047.40 monthly and a research contingency fund, equivalent to 10% of the annual value of the fellowship which should be spent on items directly related to the research activity. 
 
More information about the fellowship is at: fapesp.br/oportunidades/6808.