The Bommarius laboratory (ChBE, CHEM, Bioengineering) specializes in biocatalysis, protein stability, biochemical engineering, and synthetic biology. We seek self-motivated, hard-working student researchers interested to continue for a PhD and/or MD after college, to work on cutting-edge research problems and to learn new skills.
Eligibility:
i) graduation date (B.S.) between 12/10 and 05/13 in BIOL, BMED, CEE, ChBE, or CHEM
ii) GPA at Georgia Tech > 3.30, preferably > 3.45
iii) basic laboratory skills, enthusiasm, self-motivation, flexibility, independence
iv) start in Spring 2010 for credit, interested to continue during summer 2010
Interested?: Please email resume (incl. i) major, ii) GPA, and iii) expected graduation date) to mentor and to Prof. Andreas S. Bommarius (andreas.bommarius@chbe.gatech.edu).
Interviews with mentor: any time until Jan. 13; feedback: 1-3 days later; decision asap after agreement among student, mentor, and faculty advisor
Positions available on (each of) the following project(s):
Co-Evolution of Retinoic Acid Receptor Variants
The retinoic acid receptor (RAR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. RAR turns on gene expression in the presence of small molecule ligands, such as retinoic acid. We wish to evolve mutants of this receptor, which will bind and respond to β-lactam antibiotics. We wish to use this variant receptor to discover enzymes capable of antibiotic synthesis, providing cheaper, greener methods of production for these essential drugs.
The student will be responsible for the generation of RAR variants through error-prone PCR and testing for altered ligand specificity. The student will also be responsible for characterization of RAR variants using yeast based growth and β-galactosidase assays as well as mammalian cell based luciferase assays.
To accomplish these goals, the student will learn a number of biochemical and molecular biology techniques:
- PCR and error-prone PCR
- genetic cloning and subcloning
- working with bacterial and yeast systems
- mammalian cell culture
- Yeast two-hybrid assay (Chemical complementation)
Mentor: Michael Rood (mrood3@gatech.edu)
