The University of Groningen offers a 4-year PhD studentship

The University of Groningen offers a
4-year PhD studentship
on


"Exploring the secret metabolism of an antibiotic factory"


What? Four-year bursary PhD position, fully funded

When? Available from November 2007

Where? Department of Microbial Physiology, University of Groningen, The
Netherlands


This project will be a unique collaboration between the
Microbial Physiology department and the Groningen Bioinformatics Centre
using a newly acquired state-of-art ultra-high resolution LTQ-Orbitrap
mass spectrometer in the Medical Biomics Facility to determine the
metabolome of Streptomyces coelicolor.
Project objectives


Comprehensively explore the cellular and secreted metabolome of
Streptomyces species to identify novel antibiotic biosynthesis
pathways, using ultra-high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Understand the fundamental changes of the metabolome during
the switch from primary to secondary metabolism, i.e. when antibiotics
are produced, in S. coelicolor, our model organism.

Requirements


Candidates should have training in biochemistry, microbiology,
and molecular biology. Experience in bioinformatics, and handling
Streptomyces, would be a plus.
Environment


The University of Groningen is one of the largest and oldest
research universities of the Netherlands. Its Microbial Physiology
department is one of the leading institutes of Microbiology in Europe.
It is part of the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute (GBB), which houses 13 different research groups and provides
access to state-of-the-art research facilities to more than 100 PhD
students and 30 faculty members.

Research in the Microbial Physiology group focuses on
structure/function relationships of enzymes acting on carbohydrates,
and differentiation, regulation and metabolic engineering of antibiotic
production in Streptomyces. The Bioinformatics Centre is a major player
in the development of modern Systems Biology approaches.

Relevant publications: Breitling et al. (2006) Trends
Biotechnol. 24(12):543-8. Breitling et al. (2006): Metabolomics 2:
155-64. Hsiao et al. (2007) Microbiology 153:1394-404. Takano (2006)
Curr Opin Microbiol. 9:287-94.
Additional information and applications


You can apply for this job before September 16th, 2007. For further information
and direct applications please contact:


Dr Eriko Takano

Microbial Physiology

University of Groningen

Kerklaan 30

9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands

Phone +31-(0)50-3632143

Fax +31-(0)50-3632154

Email e.takano@...


Dr Rainer Breitling

Groningen Bioinformatics Centre

University of Groningen

Kerklaan 30

9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)50-363-8088

Fax +31 (0)50-363-7976

Email r.breitling@...