Doctoral Researcher (PhD) in Protein Synthesis

Doctoral Researcher (PhD) in Protein Synthesis

A fully funded PhD position is available to study protein synthesis in the lab of Sarah O'Keefe at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.

About the Position

We invite applications for a doctoral researcher position at the Viikki Campus in Helsinki, Finland. The doctoral researcher will work in the project Inhibiting Protein Synthesis - Old, New, Borrowed, Blue , funded by the Research Council of Finland. The doctoral researcher will be supervised by the Principal Investigator Sarah O'Keefe and co-supervised by Brendan Battersby. The successful candidate will complete an article-based PhD thesis and 30 ECTS credits of studies that are required for a PhD degree in Finland. The position is available and funded for 44 months from January 2027, or as agreed.

Project Description

Proteins are key working molecules in all cells and their synthesis is an elaborate jigsaw puzzle. The early stages of protein synthesis include translation on ribosomes and the translocation of new polypeptides across, and their insertion into, membranes via translocons or insertases. New mechanistic insights are rapidly revolutionising our textbook models and bringing previously 'undruggable' protein synthesis machineries to the forefront of drug development. This doctoral project combines cellular and chemical biology, cell-free protein synthesis, cryoEM, gene editing and orthogonal high-throughput screening to discover breakthrough protein synthesis inhibitors and re-purpose existing ones. By expanding the chemical and biological space of protein synthesis and its inhibition, this research will develop new tools to probe how proteins are made and unlock new ways to treat human diseases.

Why Work for Us?

A collaborative, innovative and inclusive research environment.

Training in cell culture, cell free protein synthesis, cryoEM, gene editing, high throughput screening, molecular biology, pr