Initiative in Biomolecular Structure

School of Physics
University of New South Wales
Sydney 2052
Australia

phone: +61 2 9385 4552
fax: +61 2 9385 6060
email: p.curmi@unsw.edu.au

Proteins are the fundamental molecular machines in any living system.  Understanding how these machines work requires a knowledge of the three dimensional atomic structure of the protein.  The focus of our group is to understand the molecular and cellular function of various protein systems. Our key experimental technique is x-ray crystallography, although we also utilise a battery of other biochemical and biophysical techniques to enhance our understanding.  The laboratory has several themes including: membrane proteins, proteins that undergo dramatic structural changes, light harvesting proteins and molecular machines.

The Group uses the tools of modern molecular biology to prepare proteins of choice. These are then characterised via biophysical and biochemical means prior to structure determination.  We use computational and bioinformatic tools to analyse our structures. We are also exploring the physical basis for the structures observed in proteins, structural patterns, their structural transitions and mechanisms of action.

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Salary Level A: A$75,612 - A$80,874 per year (plus 17% employer superannuation and leave loading) A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the Protein Structure Group at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. The focus of the project is the archaeal RNA polymerase subcomplex RpoEF and its interaction with target RNA (De Francisci et al., Environ. Microbiol. 2011 13:2039-55). The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be based at UNSW where we have in house facilities for molecular biology, protein expression, purification and characterisation. Further Information

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