SUBUNIT VACCINES GROUP

The Subunit Vaccines Group in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology invites applications from individuals, who have held a PhD degree for less than 5 years and who have not yet held any permanent professional posts as an academic, to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship. This fellowship is valued at R200 000 per annum and is tenable for one year from 01 August 2011.

The Subunit Vaccines Group in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UCT has embarked on a one year project funded by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to investigate the feasibility of producing and at least preliminarily purifying two model molecules which have great potential as diagnostic or other reagents. This project will allow us to establish the necessary background parameters and requirements for the routine systematic optimisation of early-stage production of recombinant proteins via transient expression in tobacco plants, for the South African and wider plant-produced pharmaceuticals market.

The successful postdoctoral candidate will design and carry out research experiments and as part of the incumbent’s professional development, supervision of students and routine laboratory tasks will be required. The submission of regular progress reports is a condition of award.

Requirements:

• Qualifications required are a PhD degree.
• Experience in routine molecular biological techniques.
• Computer literacy.
• Experience in expression of foreign genes using plant based or baculovirus based expression systems will be an advantage.
• Experience in protein purification will be an advantage.
• The successful candidate will be required to comply with the University’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector.

Please send a letter of application stating the applicants research interest and expertise, a maximum four-page CV which includes a list of publications and includes the names, email & telephone details of 2 referees to Dr I. Hitzeroth, Dept of Molecular and Cell Biology, UCT, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 by 30 June 2011.

Tel: (021) 650-5712; Fax: (021) 650 2646; Email: inga.hitzeroth@uct.ac.za

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The University of Cape Town reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications. The University of Cape Town reserves the right to change the conditions of award or to make no awards at all.
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