Institution
ALBA is the Spanish synchrotron light source, a large research infrastructure operating 12 beamlines, complementary facilities, and an Electron Microscopy Center, this last in partnership with other institutions. Currently constructing multiple more beamlines, expanding the Electron Microscopy Center, and integrating advanced data analytics, it sums up a wide range of infrastructures geared toward finding solutions to societal challenges.
Located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain), it is funded by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and the Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Recerca i Universitats). The synchrotron light is used by thousands of researchers to analyse and understand the properties and functionality of matter, spanning a wide variety of fields, such as catalytic research, health, energy production/storage, environmental research, communication technologies, or cultural heritage.
Our highly motivated staff works in a multidisciplinary work environment with an atmosphere formed by lived diversity, inclusion and respect for our colleagues. One of the goals of our gender equality plan is to reach parity within the Consortium’s different divisions and offices, and several actions have been taken to encourage applications from women mostly in scientific, engineer and technical job positions.
Located close to Barcelona in a natural park and well connected by car and public transportation, with excellent connectivity to the world and an employer who understands the importance of life-work balance. Facing an upgrade to ALBA II, a 4th generation facility, which will increase dramatically brightness and coherent flux, ALBA is in a phase of growth and dynamics. Being a part of the ALBA team will promote your career and will give you the opportunities to explore new territories.
With all the opportunities for new research that this upgrade will bring to the scientific community, our research group is investigating new herbicide strategies based on epigenetic regulation, as addressing the global challenge of food security is more pressing than ever. As the world population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, food production must increase by at least 60% to meet demand. While previous advancements, such as the Green Revolution and modern plant breeding techniques, have significantly improved crop yields, emerging threats—including pests, pathogens, and extreme weather events driven by climate change—pose serious risks to global agriculture. Among these, arable weeds remain the leading biotic cause of crop losses, competing with cultivated plants for essential resources and reducing yields by nearly one-third worldwide.
With this problematic in mind, our group aims to apply a multimodal approach that, unlike conventional approaches, targets both molecular and in vivo mechanisms for a more comprehensive understanding of plant genetic regulation. Our primary focus is on deciphering the response specificity of auxin, the key phytohormone governing plant growth and development. The final effectors of the auxin signaling pathway are DNA-binding transcription factors known as Auxin Response Factors (ARFs), which operate in the multistage-regulated Nuclear Auxin Pathway (NAP). ARF structural studies have revealed that their DNA-binding interface has remained highly conserved since the divergence of Marchantiophyta and Brassicaceae, over 400 million years ago. This remarkable conservation suggests that gene selection specificity likely involves additional regulatory mechanisms. Identifying these mechanisms and bridging molecular and phenotypical insights, our research aims to uncover new regulatory pathways in the NAP function, paving the way for innovative and highly specific herbicide strategies.
To achieve this goal, we combine cutting-edge synchrotron and biophysical techniques to gain an overarching view of ARF regulation. Our research leverages the advanced facilities at ALBA, including structural biology tools such as macromolecular crystallography (MX), cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM), infrared spectroscopy (MIRAS), cryo-soft X-ray tomography (MISTRAL), and small-angle X-ray scattering (NCD-SWEET). These resources, together with a state-of-the-art biology laboratory for protein biophysical characterization, provide a unique and integrative framework for our investigations.
We are offering a PhD position of three years where the successful candidate will be involved in the study of the response specificity of the Nuclear Auxin Pathway of plant organisms scientific or industrially relevant, developing the following research lines:
1. Identification of partners in the NAP pathway.
2. Purification of these partners and characterization of the interactions at the molecular level in vitro.
3. Determination of the phenotype at cellular and organism level of the disruption of the determined interactions.
4. Study of the epigenetic effects on ARF response.
Tasks
Your tasks will be:
1. Recombinant expression and purification of target proteins.
2. Biophysical/biochemical characterization of protein samples and interactions. This includes, but is not limited to, size exclusion chromatography, fluorescence anisotropy, isothermal calorimetry.
3. Fragment screening with the purified proteins.
4. Mutant design and validation of the impact in the cellular and organism context.
To successfully develop your tasks, you will work with a team of ALBA experts and external collaborators to achieve the goals. You will be able to share your work on internal meetings with biolab colleagues as well as national and international conferences. The environment near ALBA also enriches the PhD experience, with potent research centers at UAB and UB campus to strengthen the acquired knowledge. Importantly, you are encouraged to use in your research other ALBA instruments such as other beamlines or the Cryo-EM microscope.
Requirements
The requirements for participation must be met on the date of the deadline for the submission of applications and will be accredited by means of the CV attached to it, without prejudice to the power of the selection body to require the contribution of the originals of the certifications accrediting the qualifications, training and work experience invoked in the CV.
The successful candidate must:
* Hold a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or related fields.
* Have experience of at least 6 months in biological laboratory research.
Everyone who meets the requirements will be admitted for the selective process. This position is reserved for those candidates having the legal status of person with disabilities, with a degree of disability equal or greater than 33%. In case of one or more admitted applicants with this status of disability, these candidates will be evaluated at first. In the event that no candidate with the status of disability is finally selected for the position, the selection process shall continue and the rest of the applicants will be evaluated.
The working language at ALBA is English. A good level of English (B2, C1) both written and spoken is required.
Selection Process Development
The selection will be carried out through the competition-opposition system.
As a first phase, an analysis of the curriculum will be carried out (assessment of previous experience and / or scientific history, degree, training and other professional information relevant to the position). Career breaks or variations in the chronological order of CVs will be regarded as an evolution of a career, and consequently, as a contribution to the professional development.
The assessment of the CV in the competition phase will be scored up to 40 points, which will consider the following aspects:
* Experience in plant research (15 points).
* Experience in molecular biology or structural biology techniques (5 points).
* Scientific publication record. (10 points).
* Any additional bio-related research experience (10 points).
The best rated candidates, at least two if possible, will be invited to an interview where the technical competence, knowledge, skills and professional experience linked to the position will be assessed, with a total score of 60 points. A minimum of 30 points must be obtained out of a total of 60 points to be eligible.
Provided they meet the minimum requirements and have ranked among the top five after the assessment of the CV phase, at least one person from the underrepresented gender in the division/office will be interviewed.
The interview will assess the following aspects, among others:
* Scientific background. (10 points)
* Knowledge in plant research methods. (15 points)
* Experience on characterization and structural biology techniques: fluorescence microscopy, infrared spectro-microscopy, macromolecular crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and related techniques. (10 points)
* Experience in data analysis (mainly Python, Origin, R,…). (10 points)
* Know-how on commonly used bioinformatics or computational biology methods. (5 points)
* Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team. (5 points)
* Good organizational, planning skills and self-motivation. (5 points)
The merits will be accredited by means of the CV attached to the application. The selection board may require accreditation by additional documentation, originals or certified copies confirming the experience invoked in the CV.
In case of a tied final score, the position will be awarded to the person who belongs to the most underrepresented gender in the corresponding Division and subsidiarily to the overall company.
If necessary, alternates of the members of the selection board will be appointed by the president of the selection process, and the change will be published in the announcement.
The resolution of the selection procedure will be carried out within a maximum period of six months from the deadline for submitting applications for participation.
The selection process may be declared vacant if the selection board considers not to have found eligible candidates for the position although they might meet the requirements to participate in the selection process specified in the offer.
Other information
Temporary contract for three years.
The Selection Board is composed by the following members: Judith Juanhuix, Barbara Machado, Roeland Boer, Isidro Crespo
#J-18808-Ljbffr