APPLY BY 18 JULY 2024
Be part of the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) and contribute to world-leading research projects at the University of Adelaide.
The Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Research Centre dedicated to developing advanced biofuels and biomaterials. JBEI is a research partnership led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in the USA and combining the scientific expertise, resources and support of five national laboratories, eight academic institutions, and one industry partner. The University of Adelaide is the only international partner.
The role will identify and characterise genes responsible for plant cell wall biosynthesis, and implement this knowledge to redesign the wall for improved function and application. Working within the University of Adelaide JBEI team, but also in close collaboration with the Emeryville-based JBEI team, as well as other partners, the successful candidate will use in-house methods to develop null mutants in candidate genes via tissue culture and gene editing in Arabidopsis. The position will focus on pectin, and particularly on rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II).
The tasks of the Postdoctoral Researcher will include using methods which include HPAEC-PAD, PACE and MALDI to characterise the resulting cell wall composition and structure. Heterologous expression of proteins, combined with methods such as microscale thermophoresis will also be used to characterise enzyme activity. The postdoc will also co-supervise PhD students and Honours students.
Outputs will include characterisation of novel genes, improved methods for RG-II analysis, and a better understanding of cell wall assembly and function.
