Post-doc: Experimental Evolution of the Bacterial Flagellar Motor

Department/faculty: Applied Sciences
Level: PhD degree (post doc)
Working hours: 38 hours per week
Contract: 2 years
Salary: €2427 to €3831

Applied Sciences

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,800 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Applied Physics.

Bionanoscience is a multi-disciplinary department that is dedicated to the study of fundamental and applied biological questions with cutting-edge tools from biology, physics and nanotechnology. Research topics range from single molecule biophysics and evolution to synthetic biology and artificial cells. The department offers excellent technical facilities including an advanced microscopy suite and next-generation sequencing.

The Beaumont Lab seeks insight into the mechanisms behind the creative potential of evolution by mutation and selection—from the nanoscale to the ecosystem level. We do this using real-time evolution and ecology experiments, synthetic biology and biophysics in combination with a range of bacterial model systems. Current research topics include the ecology and evolution of conductive bacterial nanowires, the evolutionary origins of biodiversity, and modular evolution of multi-protein complexes.

Job description

We are looking for a post-doc to bring a highly promising, ongoing line of research on modular protein-complex evolution to fruition. The project examines how evolution incorporates incompatible components into the bacterial flagellar motor. Using engineered motors, we followed component integration during real-time evolution experiments. Next-generation sequencing and phenotypic analyses have begun to reveal the underlying evolutionary trajectories. The main challenge of the post-doc will be to dissect the mutational trajectories and associated phenotypic changes in order to provide unprecedented new insight into the mechanisms of modular protein-complex evolution. The post-doc will also be encouraged to develop and test hypotheses using this experimental model (e.g. on 'irreducible' complexity evolution).

Requirements

Qualified candidates have a PhD in molecular (micro)biology, experimental ecology and evolution, biophysics, synthetic biology or a related field. In addition, they have a strong interest in experimental evolutionary research and are motivated by a deep scientific curiosity. Successful candidates have experience with (bacterial) genetics techniques, good experimental skills and a drive to learn new methods and concepts.

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home (with a contract of two years or longer), and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Information and application

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. H.J.E. Beaumont, phone: +31 (0)15-2788647, e-mail: h.j.e.beaumont@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV, an application letter explaining your interest in this specific project and contact information of two references by 20 October 2014 to Dr. H.J.E. Beaumont.
When applying for this position, please refer to vacancy number TNWBN14-033.