Development of native liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry for drug discovery

A fully-funded 4-year EPSRC National Productivity Investment Fund PhD studentship is available within the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with AstraZeneca.

The project will develop an in situ tool for structural characterisation of protein/protein and protein/drug complexes. The principal aim is to develop native liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry to support drug discovery by combining native mass spectrometry, in which proteins remain in their folded form and their intra- and intermolecular non-covalent interactions are maintained in the gas-phase, and liquid extraction surface analysis, in which biological substrates are directly sampled.

The PhD will provide specialist training in advanced mass spectrometry techniques, ambient surface mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, and liquid chromatography. The PhD will also provide transferable skills acquired through the comprehensive training provided by the Biosciences Graduate Research School.

We seek an exceptional candidate with an undergraduate or Masters degree in chemistry or biochemistry. Start date will be Jan 2019.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Helen Cooper at [Email Address Removed]. For further details on the research in the Cooper laboratory, including relevant research papers, visit: www.biosciences-labs.bham.ac.uk/cooper.