Missions

The researcher will be tasked with purifying rare pentameric channel receptors, which cannot be overexpressed, from native sources in order to conduct a structural study using cryo-electron microscopy. To do this, they will need to use their expertise in membrane protein biochemistry to devise and validate innovative purification protocols.

Activities

- set-up purification protocols for pentameric ligand-gated ion channels
- set up affinity purification strategies adapted for native proteins
- maintain of cell lines, cell culture for membrane protein overexpression
- Documentation and presentation of the conducted experiments

Skills

- Expertise in membrane protein purification (knowledge of detergents and membrane mimetics)
- Previous knowledge in the family of pentameric ligand gated ion channels is a plus
- Knowledge of cell culture basics
- Previous experience working with native insect tissues is a plus
- English (written/oral) level B2

Work Context

Located on the Grenoble Science Park (ESRF/ILL/EMBL/IBS), the Institute of Structural Biology (IBS) is a national and international player in the field of integrated structural biology. The IBS is a research center, a technical platform, a host site and a scientific training center. Its mission is to develop research in structural biology, a field of research that is crucial to the understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms. It is supported by 12 state-of-the-art platforms.
As a joint research unit (CEA-CNRS-UGA), the IBS is composed of 20 research groups, each of which proposes a multi-disciplinary approach, at the frontiers of biology, physics and chemistry, in coherence with 3 research axes. Nearly 320 people work there as researchers, PhD students, engineers and technicians in a multicultural and international environment.
The person recruited will join the Membrane Transport group working on insect pentameric ligand-gated ion channels https://www.ibs.fr/en/research/membrane-proteins-and-glycobiology/membrane-transport-group-h-nury/?lang=en

Constraints and risks

Without.
The research will be carried out in either French or English, however it is expected that the non-French speaking candidate will strive to learn the basics of French in order to facilitate communication and integration into the laboratory.