A PhD student position is available in to work with our colleague Dr. Dilip Rai (Food Biosciences, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown) on Screening Phytochemical Extracts for Inhibitors of Ralstonia solanacearum Lectin.
The PhD Fellowship is a joint research project between Teagasc Food Research Centre Ashtown and NUI Galway. The student will be based, in the first instance, at the Teagasc Food Research Centre at Ashtown, Dublin 15 and will be registered at the NUI Galway under the supervision of Dr. Peter Crowley in association with Teagasc supervisors (Dr Dilip Rai and Dr. Nigel Brunton). Periods of laboratory work will be undertaken at the NUIG.
The aim of the project is to identify inhibitors of a lectin (carbohydrate binding protein) found in the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum. Phytochemical extracts from food processing waste will be screened for activity towards the lectin. Screening will be performed by NMR spectroscopy.
Training will be provided in structural biology (protein expression and purification / NMR spectroscopy), mass spectrometry and various analytical chemistry techniques such extract preparation, chromatography, etc.
Requirements for this job are First class B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics or a related discipline.
The fellowship provides a stipend of €21,000. University fees are paid by the student from the stipend which is tenable for 4 years.
FURTHER INFORMATION/APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants are requested to submit their curriculum vitae (two pages maximum) and the contact details for two scientific referees to dilip.rai@teagasc.ie and peter.crowley@nuigalway.ie
APPLICATION CLOSING DATE
12th AUGUST 2011.
