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Postdoctoral Scholar Position
Landick Lab - UW Madison
Regulation of RNA Polymerase
An opportunity for postdoctoral training in the Landick lab is available for highly motivated,
new PhD scientists interesting in studying gene regulation in bacteria at multiple scales.
We seek to connect the structure, function, and mechanism of RNA polymerase to
genome-scale regulation in bacteria. Current goals include understanding how transcriptional regulators alter RNA polymerase conformation to control RNA synthesis (Nayak
et al., 2013; Hein et al., 2014; Project 1) and how nucleoprotein filaments formed on
bacterial chromosomes and transcriptional pausing synergize to regulate genomic
transcription (Larson et al., 2014; Kolajich et al., 2015; Project 2). We combine conventional and single-molecule biochemistry (Larson et al., 2011; Kotlajich et al., 2015),
structural biology (Weixlbaumer et al., 2013), and next-generation sequencing-enabled
functional genomics (Larson et al., 2014) to achieve these aims.
• Project 1. Elucidate the conformational changes in RNA polymerase that underlie
transcriptional pausing and the sequence basis of interactions with RNA and DNA that
cause the changes. This study will combine development and use of probes of RNA
polymerase conformation with development of novel next-generation sequencing-based
assays, and can include single-molecule or structural biology approaches.
• Project 2. Develop and apply single-molecule-based approaches using TIRF and superresolution microscopy to elucidate the dynamics of bacterial nucleoprotein filaments
involving H-NS, StpA, Hha, YdgT, and HU and to define how filaments and elongating
RNAP interact to regulate gene expression in bacterial cells. In vivo analyses using
ChIPseq and NETseq are potential components of this project.
Nayak et al., 2013 Mol Cell 50:882; Weixlbaumer et al., 2013 Cell 152:431; Larson et al., 2011 Mol Cell
41:249; Hein et al., 2014 Nat Struct Mol Biol 21:794; Larson et al., 2014 Science 344:1042; Kotlajich et al.,
2015 eLife 4:e04970.
The successful applicants will combine a strong drive to extend the frontiers of knowledge
with the creativity, quantitative skills, and ambition to accomplish cutting-edge research.
UW Madison offers an outstanding training environment for postdoctoral scholars and a
strong track-record of alumni achievement in academic and private-sector careers. To
apply, please send a cover letter explaining your career goals and research interests, a
CV, and names of three references to landick@biochem.wisc.edu. Questions are welcome.
www.landick.wisc.edu • landick@biochem.wisc.edu