Biophysics / Mass Spectrometry / RNA Research

Research topic: Characterizing structural and energetic aspects of RNA aptamer binding to metabolites, using mass spectrometry-based methodologies. Ligand binding is intimately linked to conformational rearrangements in the RNA. We will therefore combine mass spectrometry detection of the complexes with ion mobility spectrometry analysis, to reveal these conformational changes. The newly developed methods can help screening RNA libraries with regard to ligand binding, or to screen small molecule libraries with regard to binding to a specific RNA sensor.

The team of Valérie Gabelica is specialized in mass spectrometry of intact nucleic acid structures and their complexes with cations and ligands: http://www.iecb.u-bordeaux.fr/teams/GABELICA/. For more information about this position, please contact valerie.gabelica@inserm.fr.

Doctoral Training: the fellow will belong to the Marie Sklodowska Curie ITN (Initial Training Network) MetaRNA. As a PhD student in an ITN network, you will have – as any other “normal” PhD student – a host lab, where you will be doing your research. ITNs are financially supported by the European Commission because they provide excellent research, training and career aspects (which is something that is sometimes not guaranteed when doing a “normal” PhD). Thus, there a number of benefits being a PhD student in an ITN (see http://metarna.eu/benefits-of-doing-a-phd-within-an-itn-project/).

Recruiting organization: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm), U869 unit « ARNA – Artificial and Natural Regulation of Nucleic Acids »

Workplace: Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie – Bordeaux – FRANCE

Desired background: Master’s degree training in at least one of the following: Physical, analytical, or supramolecular chemistry – Biophysics – Mass spectrometry – Biochemistry. English is mandatory.