Research Fellow

Photosynthesis is the process by which virtually all energy and organic matter enters the biosphere and as such is vital for marine and terrestrial food webs. In aquatic ecosystems, photosynthesis is predominantly carried out by tiny, single-celled phytoplankton. In oceanic environments, the numerically dominant cyanobacterial genera Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus can be responsible for up to 70% of CO2 fixation in some regions. These pico-phytoplankton constitute the major primary producers in most marine ecosystems and thus form the base of marine food webs. Understanding the factors regulating photosynthesis are thus key to comprehending global carbon cycling.

This project seeks to understand how the key CO2 fixing enzyme, RuBisCO, is regulated using a combination of genetic and protein-protein interaction approaches, particularly focusing on carboxysome components.

Vacancy Overview:

Full time, 36.5 hours per week.
Fixed term contract for up to a maximum of 36 months.
(This may have be to shortened up to a maximum of 33 months depending on the starting salary of the successful candidate)

You will undertake internationally competitive research funded by the Leverhulme Trust on a project aimed at “Modifying cyanobacterial photosynthesis”.

You will have a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and ideally have specialist biochemistry skills particularly related to photosynthesis (in plants, algae or cyanobacteria), protein-protein interactions and cyanobacterial molecular biology. You will be highly motivated and have a particular interest in how biotic factors (e.g. viruses) control photosynthesis in a cyanobacterium. You will also have excellent communication and team skills.

More information: https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/search_engine/jobs.cgi?owner=5062452&ownertype=fair&jcode=1857279&vt_template=1457&adminview=1