05/11/2021

We are looking for a highly motivated and self-driven post-doctoral researcher to join our Molecular Microbiology group at the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Milano (Italy). The available position is a “Assegno di ricerca di tipo B” for 1 year, renewable for 2 additional years and available from March 2022.

Fighting antibiotic resistance is a priority of the public health agenda, and new antibacterial drugs are urgently needed. The characterization of novel cellular targets and the development of antimicrobials with novel mechanisms of action have become essential to tackle the spread of resistance and to control multidrug resistant bacterial infections.

Our group has long been involved in the study of cell envelope biogenesis in Gram-negative bacteria and has contributed to the identification and characterization of the molecular machine that transports lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the cell surface, using E. coli and P. aeruginosa as model systems. The LPS transport system is essential and highly conserved among Gram-negative bacteria, and hence an ideal source of new targets for antibacterials.

The applicant will join a stimulating international group and will be involved in the development and application of a new HTS system for the screening of compounds effective against LPS biogenesis. Moreover, the applicant will be involved in the generation of E. coli conditional mutants in envelope biogenesis genes, previously selected as putative targets of antibacterials, for the characterization of inhibitors identified by virtual screening.

The candidates must hold a Ph.D. and demonstrated expertise in bacteriology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. The candidate is expected to work independently and integrated with the other people of the group.

Applicants are invited to submit their Curriculum Vitae, including list of publications, and contact information of two referees to Dr. Paola Sperandeo at paola.sperandeo@unimi.it.