A postdoctoral position is available to work on ion
channel structural biology in the lab of Filip Van Petegemat the University of
British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada). The project focuses on the regulation and
pathophysiology of Ryanodine Receptors (RyRs) and their associated proteins. RyRs
represent the largest ion channels currently known and are targets for hundreds
of mutations that cause cardiac arrhythmias, myopathies, and malignant
hyperthermia.

 

The project combines cryo-EM and electrophysiology
with various biophysical methods. For some aspects, X-ray crystallography may
be required. Our lab has steady access to the in-house cryo-EM facility, which
houses a Titan Krios with Falcon IV detector and a 200kV Glacios (Falcon III) for
pre-screening grids, as well as microscopes for negative stain EM. 

 

Minimum requirements for applicants include a PhD
in Biochemistry or a related discipline with extensive experience with one or more structural biology methods (NMR, X-ray crystallography, or cryo-EM). Direct experience with membrane proteins
is an additional plus.

 

The lab values diversity and inclusivity, and
applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This is an opportunity
for people with a structural biology background to learn electrophysiological
methods.

 

Recent work from the lab includes an investigation
of how Ryanodine Receptors are modulated by small molecules, disease mutations,
and post-translational modification, using cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography,
planar lipid bilayer electrophysiology, and enzyme kinetics.

 

Recent work on this topic:

Yang et al (2022) PNAS
119:e2120416119

Woll et al (2021) Nature
Comm. 12:807

Ma et al (2020) Nat
Chem Biol. 16,1246-1254

Haji-Ghassemi et al (2019) Molecular
Cell 75,1-14

For more information on recent work, see http://crg.ubc.ca/VanPetegem/

The lab is housed within the Life Sciences Centre
at UBC (lsi.ubc.ca), located on the Point Grey campus in Vancouver.

Interested candidates should send a CV, a cover
letter showing the motivation to apply, along with names and contact details
for 3 references to filip.vanpetegem@gmail.com.

 

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