Postdoctoral fellow position
in functional imaging of molecular players in cancer for 2 years
in the Groups of Jukka Westermarck and Daniel Abankwa at the Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, in Turku/Åbo, Finland (www.btk.fi). Turku is a beautiful old city located in South-Western corner of Finland surrounded by a magnificent archipelago with thousands of small islands (http://www.saaristo.org/eng/).
Our research focuses on the regulation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) (see Junttila MR et al. (2007) CIP2A inhibits PP2A in human malignancies. Cell 130(1): 51-62; Westermarck J, Hahn WC (2008) Multiple pathways regulated by the tumor suppressor PP2A in transformation. Trends Mol Med 14(4): 152-160) and the membrane organization and signaling activity of small GTPases of the Ras-, Rho- and Rab-family (see Abankwa D et al. (2008) Embo J 27(5): 727-735; Abankwa D et al. (2010) PNAS 107(3): 1130-1135). We will be using cutting-edge cellular imaging (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy, FLIM, and STED-nanoscopy), high-throughput methodological approaches (high-content and cytometer chemical- and RNAi-screening) and animal models to answer exciting questions around this newly discovered mechanism.
The Centre for Biotechnology offers state-of-the-art research facilities for bioimaging, proteomics, genomics, crystallography, which support excellence in research in the greater Turku area. The Cell Imaging Core features very good equipment for life-cell imaging, high-content and confocal microscopy, as well as state of the art FACS service and high-throughput flow cytometry. In particular, it serves as the Nordic reference site for the Leica STimulated Emission Depletion (STED)-superresolution microscope.
We are looking for candidates with exceptional motivation and proven track record of successful scientific work, who earned their PhD degree in a discipline related to life sciences or biophysics and are experienced and/or interested in protein purification, fluorescence imaging, high-throughput flow cytometry and/or animal cancer models. Experience in molecular biology techniques is indispensable.
The salary is in accordance with the University salary system (for teaching and research personnel) level 5-6, where the work specific salary component is between 2682,35- 3145,32 €/month. In addition, there is a share increase based on the personal performance, which is at most 46% of the base salary (usually up to 3650 €/month).
Please send preferably as one merged pdf: a short CV, as well as the email contacts of 2-3 referees and a brief description that highlights your most outstanding achievements and your specific motivation to join the group (approx. 1/2 A4 page) to daniel.abankwa@btk.fi with the subject line ‘PostDoc candidate’. The positions commence at the beginning of 2011. Applications are open from 1. November 2010 until the positions are filled.