Postdoctoral Research Associate, Human RNA Polymerase II We have an immediate opening for a postdoctoral researcher to study the structure/function of human RNA polymerase II and interactions of the RNA polymerase II transcription complex that allow regulation of pausing and termination during transcript elongation. Regulation of transcript elongation plays central roles in human development, in cancer, and in the eitiology of HIV-1/AIDS. The overall goal of the project is to use recombinant RNA polymerase methodology to make human RNA polymerase II mutants and use them to test models of transcriptional pausing and the mechanisms of regulatory protein action. Candidates should meet the general expectations for postdoctoral candidates described below and have experience in or exceptional aptitude to learn eukaryotic molecular biology, tissue culture, and biochemistry.

Postdoctoral Research Associate, RNA Polymerase Biophysics or
Recombinant RNA Polymerases from Diverse Bacterial Pathogens We also have an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to study either conformational changes that underlie the RNA polymerase nucleotide addition cycle using biophysical methods or to develop recombinant bacterial RNA polymerases from diverse bacterial pathogens for structure/function studies and drug discovery. The project undertaken will depend on the individual hired. The candidate hired will meet the general expectations for postdoctoral researchers described below and will have expertise in either biophysical methods such as fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spec, NMR, or crystallography, or in protein engineering, protein purification, and biochemical assay development.

Research Specialist, Biochemistry Full-time position to work on the mechanism of the enzyme RNA polymerase. Minimum qualifications are a B.S. in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, or related discipline and 1-2 years research experience before or after graduation. The person hired will be responsible for performing rapid quench-flow enzyme assays, data analysis, and some protein purification. Experience in nucleic acid or protein electrophoresis, enzyme assay, molecular biology methods, or protein purification are desirable. Skills in math and computational analysis will be especially helpful.