24 month postdoctoral position in Chemical Biology

Overview:  A postdoctoral position is available with Prof. Joanna McGouran at Trinity College Dublin (http://joannamcgouran.wixsite.com/mysite). The position, beginning 1^st August 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter, is for 24 months in the first instance.

Background: Activity based probes-which mimic an enzyme substrate but contain a chemical trap are powerful tools in biological research. These probes advance many areas of biological and medical research including: Discovery of novel enzymatic activities, Inhibitor screening & Biomarker discovery. In this project you will synthesise and study an entirely new class of probes, building on recent radical protein trapping methodologies developed within the laboratory. Probes will then be tested to determine their activity and specificity within a cellular context, prior to developing new inhibitor screening assays to accelerate drug discovery.

Project: Building on new radical-activated probes characterised within the laboratory this project will involve the organic synthesis and biochemical testing of a small panel of new activity-based probes and assay development for inhibitor profiling. Generating the probes will involve organic synthesis, followed by biochemical and biological evaluation of the probes created. This multidisciplinary project would be ideally suited to someone with a chemical biology/organic synthesis background but full training can be given in any unfamiliar areas.

Research environment: We are a supportive interdisciplinary group in the Department of Chemistry. Our laboratory is located within the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment. Within the project you will join a vibrant research community with world class research facilities and be given the opportunity to interact with complementary research groups and attend national and international conferences.

Requirements: A strong PhD in the field of Chemical Biology, Chemistry, or a related subject, ideally with a demonstrable interest in chemical biology and/or significant relevant lab experience. You must be highly motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a supportive team. Good knowledge of chemical biology and an interest in research at the interface with biochemistry/molecular biology is required. Experience of enzymatic assays advantageous but not necessary as full training will be given in all aspects of the project.

Details: 2-year position in the first instance, with a possibility to extend. Salary €43,371 pa. Anticipated start date 1^st August 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter. Applications deadline midday Tuesday 7^th May. For further information or to apply please email a PDF copy of a brief cover letter and CV, to jmcgoura@tcd.ie.

Background reading:

Taylor, NC.; Hessman, G; Kramer, HB.; McGouran, JF.: Probing enzyme activity - a radical approach. Chemical Science, 2020, 11, 2967

McGouran, J.F., Gaertner, S.R., Altun, M., Kramer, H.B., and Kessler, B.M.: Deubiquitinating enzyme specificity for ubiquitin chain topology profiled by di-ubiquitin activity probes. Chemistry & biology, 2013, 20, 1447.

Willems, L.I., Overkleeft, H.S. and van Kasteren, S.I.: Current developments in activity-based protein profiling. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2014, 25, 1181.