Research Associate (Bioenergetics and Single-Molecule Biophysics

Overview

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world‑class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

• Design, execute, and analyse single‑molecule atomic force microscopy (smAFM) experiments to quantify the binding probabilities, unbinding forces, and turnover rates of electron carrier proteins on isolated and super complex forms of bacterial, mitochondrial, and chloroplast electron transfer complexes.
• Purify membrane protein supercomplexes and their components from yeast mitochondria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, spinach chloroplasts, and Chlamydomonas thylakoids, including via collaborations with international partners.
• Apply complementary biophysical methods, including mass photometry, microscale thermophoresis, and absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, to characterise protein‑protein interactions and electron transfer kinetics.
• Design and generate site‑directed mutants of supernumerary subunits implicated in encounter complex formation and characterise their effects on binding and turnover.
• Engineer artificial supercomplexes in Chlamydomonas using CRISPR‑Cas9, including the construction and validation of chimeric gene fusions and the purification biophysical and structural (Cryo‑EM) characterisation of the resulting complexes.
• Liaise with collaborators conducting molecular and Brownian dynamics simulations to translate computational predictions into testable experimental hypotheses and vice versa.
• Disseminate research outputs through publications in international peer‑reviewed journals, oral and poster presentations at national and international conferences, and contributions to public engagement activities.
• Contribute to the day‑to‑day running of the laboratory, including assisting with the training and supervision of postgraduate and undergraduate students.
• Contribute to grant reporting and to the preparation of further funding applications, including Research fish submissions to the BBSRC.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records of experimental data in line with good research practice and the University’s research data management policy.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience does not match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

PhD (or be close to completion / have equivalent postdoctoral work experience) in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, plant sciences, microbiology, or a closely related discipline.

Substantial practical experience in protein biochemistry, including the purification and biochemical characterisation of membrane proteins or large multi‑subunit protein complexes.

Experience of one or more biophysical methods for quantifying protein‑protein interactions, for example atomic force microscopy, mass photometry, microscale thermophoresis, surface plasmon resonance, or fluorescence‑based techniques.

Experience of cryo‑electron microscopy

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present research clearly to specialist and non‑specialist audiences.

A strong track record of research excellence relative to career stage, evidenced by first‑author publications in international peer‑reviewed…