Postdoctoral position in plant biochemistry

Department of Genome Biology & Division of Plant Sciences, The John Curtin School of Medical Research & Research School of Biology, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment

Improving photosynthetic performance of crops is an attractive untapped option to increase productivity. We have a unique lead with ANU-patented technology for design of improved Rubisco mutants, and are looking to recruit a postdoctoral fellow to our small multidisciplinary team employing bioinformatics, molecular biology, chloroplast transformation and plant physiology.
Location	Canberra/ACT
Term of Contract	Fixed Term of 2 Years
Grade	Level A
Salary Package	$56,113 - $71,178 pa plus 17% superannuation View Academic Salary Information...
Closing Date	4 February 2011
Position Overview	Although inefficiency of the key CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, in photosynthesis is a major factor limiting crop productivity little attention has been given to this route for crop improvement. Our development of a new integrated procedure (now in ANU national-phase patent applications) for designing Rubisco mutants with improved kinetic profiles and validating them in vitro and in planta, initially in a tobacco-model plant, gives us a unique lead to exploit this route. We have built an integrated team with expertise in computational simulation, bioinformatics, molecular biology, chloroplast transformation, enzymology and plant physiology, and are now expanding it by new recruitments. We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow with skills in biochemistry/molecular biology and plant or animal physiology, and experience in applying them in molecular biological and cellular and/or whole organism research. The postdoctoral fellow should be able to work both independently and co-operatively as part of a collaborative team, supervise junior researchers, and have an interest in translating basic research into areas of economic and social importance. For enquiries please contact Professor Jill Gready or Associate Professor John Evans on (02) 6125 8304 or (02) 6125 4492 or email Jill.Gready@anu.edu.au or John.Evans@anu.edu.au
Additional Information	PEWER21955.pdf
Position description
Responsible to	Group Leader, Computational Proteomics and Therapy Design Group
Role statement	PURPOSE STATEMENT: The Postdoctoral Fellow will carry out part of a new collaborative research program funded by Bayer Bioscience to develop The Australian National University’s (ANU) patented technology for design of improved Rubisco mutants. The project builds on successful proof-of-concept studies and aims to design and validate a portfolio of mutants suitable for transformation into a variety of crops. KEY ACCOUNTABILITY AREAS: POSITION DIMENSION AND RELATIONSHIPS: This role is within a cross-campus multidisciplinary research project between The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) and the Research School of Biology (RSB), led by Professor Jill Gready. Tthe project leverages from the computational and molecular biology expertise of Professor Gready’s group in JCSMR, and from expertise in Rubisco enzymology, chloroplast transformation in a tobacco-model plant, and plant physiological assessments of photosynthesis of Associate Professor John Evans and Associate Professor Spencer Whitney in RSB. The project couples the interests of the two areas in Rubisco research and the shared goals of enhancing Rubisco performance as a means of improving photosynthetic performance and productivity of crops. The Postdoctoral Fellow will undertake plasmid preparation, sequencing and other molecular biological components of the project in JCSMR and interact strongly with researchers undertaking in silico components of the project. Within RSB, the Postdoctoral Fellow will undertake Rubisco kinetics, chloroplast transformation and whole-plant analyses. The project is one of two Rubisco-focussed projects involving a cross-campus collaboration between JCSMR and RSB. Both projects have the same overall goals but different approaches to achieving enhancement of Rubisco performance in plants. The Postdoctoral Fellow will contribute to the development of a critical mass of expertise in combining in silico Rubisco research with experimental Rubisco kinetics and plant physiology analyses. These will strengthen The Australian National University’s pre-eminence in photosynthesis research and allow for its translation into crop development and other applications. ROLE STATEMENT: Under the broad direction of the project co-supervisors, Professor Jill Gready and Associate Professor John Evans, the Postdoctoral Fellow will: 1. Contribute to the ongoing planning and assessment of progress of the project research with the project supervisors and other members of the project team, including in conjunction with meetings with the industry partner. 2. Design and carry out experiments to prepare plasmids of designed Rubisco mutants and transform them into tobacco, measure Rubisco kinetic parameters in vitro and in planta together with relevant plant physiological properties, and analyse the results. 3. Liaise with the in silico researcher position on the project undertaking the mutant design on interpretation of the kinetic and other experimental analyses to prioritise mutant production and characterization to facilitate effective feedback between in silico and experimental test steps. 4. Working with the in silico researcher position on the project, co-ordinate the overall workflow of the project to maintain focus on the project milestones and reduce avoidable loss of time and resources. 5. Train and supervise project technical support staff in carrying out relevant experimental components of the project research, including setting up and maintenance of glasshouse experiments, and liaise with other researchers in the case where such staff are shared with another project. 6. Working with the in silico researcher position on the project, co-ordinate the writing of 6-monthly reports for the industry partner and assist with other reporting functions and meetings with the industry partner as necessary. 7. Independently or in collaboration with others, prepare reports of research results for varied purposes, including for funder, present research results to a range of audiences, both academic/research and translational (e.g. funder), and take a lead or co-lead role in preparing manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed journals or other appropriate publications 8. Offer guidance and, where appropriate, contribute to training undergraduate and postgraduate research students. 9. Attend and contribute to regular project research meetings, and other laboratory research meetings as appropriate, and maintain current awareness of the relevant scientific literature. 10. Maintain research records compliant with requirements for protecting IP rights, as specified in the Bayer Bioscience – ANU Agreement and ANU IP Policy. Maintain commercial-in-confidence material appropriately. 11. Other duties as consistent with the classification of the position. A Level A Academic shall work with support, guidance and/or direction from staff classified at Level B and above and with an increasing degree of autonomy as the research academic gains in skill and experience. SKILL BASE A Level A Academic will normally have completed four years of tertiary study in the relevant discipline and/or have equivalent qualifications and/or research experience. In many cases a position at this level will require an honours degree or higher qualifications or equivalent research experience. Research experience may have contributed to or resulted in publications, conference papers, reports or professional or technical contributions that give evidence of research potential.
Selection criteria
	SELECTION CRITERIA: 1. Ability to conduct research and contribute to obtaining research funding in the field of biochemistry/molecular biology, plant or animal physiology. A PhD in one of these areas is highly desirable. 2. Demonstrated experience in applying molecular biological and cellular and/or whole organism methods in plant and/or animal research. A knowledge and understanding of IP rights and patenting procedures will be highly regarded. 3. Ability to contribute to dissemination of research results in an academic environment through a demonstrated record of preparing reports of research results for required purposes, presenting research results to a range of audiences, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. 4. An interest in working in basic strategic research with a translational pathway to an outcome of economic and/or social importance would be beneficial. 5. Ability to work both independently and co-operatively as part of a collaborative team. Experience in working within a multidisciplinary team, including in training and supervision of junior researchers and technical staff will be highly regarded. 6. Well developed oral and written communication skills including the ability to maintain confidential material and information. 7. A demonstrated understanding of equal opportunity principles and policies and a commitment to their application in a university context.