POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW - EVOLUTIONARY CELL BIOLOGY
Applications are sought for a post-doctoral fellow to carry out research
into the early evolution of eukaryotic cells. The successful candidate is
expected to have ultrastructural and other microscopical skills and use
these skills to describe, isolate and catalogue the cytoskeletal
components of free-living protozoa from anaerobic habitats. Skills in
electron microscopy are essential, prior experience of working with
free-living protozoa, taxonomy or immunolocalization procedures is
desirable
The proposed research takes advantage of the unique perspective
that has developed within the field of evolutionary protistology. Efforts
to rationalize the diversity of protists is now converging on a fairly
robust understanding of their inter-relationships. As a result, we now
have some basic models of the sequence in which the components of
the eukaryotic cells were established. Most of the steps in the
evolution of the eukaryotic cell occurred within organisms without
mitochondria. Unfortunately, the diversity of primitively
amitochondriate protists is very poorly understood. This project first
seeks to develop a sound understanding of the diversity of free-living
anaerobic protists through light and electron microscopy. This period
of the study is intended to lead to the establishment of a number of
cultures of the primitively anaerobic protists. The cultures will provide
much of the material for the next stages.
The ultrastructural information will be use to achieve a
provisional placement of organisms in the evolutionary tree of
eukaryotes. This will be tested through molecular studies in
conjunction with co-workers in U.S.A. The final phase will exploit
expertise in cytoskeleton research at the University of Sydney to
explore the repertoire of cytoskeletal proteins within the primitively
amitochondriate cells. The project is funded for one year in the first
instance, with the possibility for renewal for up to three years
conditional upon availability of funds.
The appointment is at the level of Postdoctoral Fellow with a
starting salary of A$36,285.
There is no application form, applicants should write outlining their
appropriateness for the position and enclose a CV. Closing date, end
May 1994.
David J. Patterson
School of Biological Sciences A08
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
FAX International 612 692 4119
PHONE International 612 692 2438
PHONE (in Australia) 02 692 2438
paddy at extro.ucc.su.oz.au David Patterson
