Research Associate Opportunity in Structural Biology & Cryo-EM at Imperial College London
Imperial College London is inviting applications for a Research Associate position in Structural Biology and Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM) within the Costa Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences. This exciting opportunity is ideal for researchers passionate about protein biochemistry, bacteriophage biology, structural microbiology, and molecular mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer (HGT).
Funded by Wellcome Trust Discovery Award, this project aims to uncover the molecular basis of bacterial conjugation and bacteriophage-mediated transduction — key biological processes involved in microbial evolution, antimicrobial resistance spread, and gene transfer.
The Costa Laboratory focuses on understanding horizontal gene transfer (HGT) using advanced structural and biochemical approaches. The selected candidate will work on:
- Molecular mechanisms of bacterial conjugation
- Bacteriophage-mediated transduction
- Structural characterization of macromolecular nanomachines
- Cryo-EM analysis of Type IV secretion systems, bacteriophages, and phage satellites
The project builds on the laboratory’s strong publication record in Nature Communications and Cell, providing an excellent platform for impactful scientific discovery.
Qualifications & Skills Required
- PhD (or equivalent) in Structural Biology or a related discipline
- Strong expertise in Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM)
- Experience in protein structure determination workflows
- Skills in: Molecular biology, Protein biochemistry, Grid preparation, Single-particle analysis (SPA), Cryo-EM data processing, Atomic model building.
- A strong research record with at least one first-author publication or bioRxiv preprint
For additional information, candidates may contact:
Professor Tiago Dias da Costa
mailto: t.costa@imperial.ac.uk
For more phage-related research opportunities, check here
This job post was originally curated by www.thephage.xyz/jobs
