Crystallography Online: the website of the International Union of Crystallography

PhD Project: Determination of the solution structure of biomolecules using small angle scattering.
	
The characterization of the structure of proteins and biomolecules in solution is vital for understanding protein and bio-molecular function. This emerging area of research has wide applications in the characterization of intrinsically unstructured
proteins, with applications in the development of vaccines and treatments for a wide range of diseases, including malaria and a range of cancers. This project has been established as a collaboration between RMIT and ANSTO and will make use of a number of
techniques: Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) at RMIT, ANSTO and at synchrotron facilities; Neutron scattering at OPAL (Sydney) and international facilities; and Light scattering at the RMIT light scattering facility. In addition, the complementary
techniques of CD spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) will be used. The position will be based at RMIT (Melbourne) or ANSTO (Sydney), with the student spending significant time in both institutions.

Further details
This work is part of collaboration between RMIT University (Melbourne) and ANSTO in Sydney. At RMIT you will be based in the Soft Condensed Matter research group in the School of Applied Sciences. The successful candidate will receive an additional
$10,000/year top-up scholarship from ANSTO. In addition the successful candidate may be eligible to apply for an AINSE Postgraduate Research Award. The closing date for applications for APA scholarships is 31 October 2006.
For Further information please contact A/Prof Gary Bryant (tel. +61 3 9925 2139, email: gary.bryant at rmit.edu.au) or Chris Garvey (tel. 08 9717 9328, email cjg at ansto.gov.au).
or website: http://www.biophysics.org.au/Jobs/index.html#ANSTO2

PhD Project: Cellulosic Deformation and Nanoscale Structural Changes in Wood
	
In the plant kingdom a diverse range of structure and mechanical functioning is achieved with a limited range of polymers. Cellulose is the most important polymer in the plant kingdom's construction set1. In wood cellulose is arranged in nanoscale unitary
crystallites called microfibrils. The orientation of the microfibrils with respect to an applied force determines the nature of the load bearing structures within the wood2. It is possible to study the restructuring in a cellulosic material as a force is
applied in situ using wide and small angle xray scattering (SAXS)3. The former is sensitive to both crystallite and  intra-crystallite polymer chain re-orientations, the latter is sensitive to crystallite reorientations. A comparison of the two methods and
examination of the underlying assumptions of these methods may provide fundamental understanding in relationships between wood macro-scale functioning and nanoscale structure, and also provide key predictors of wood quality for the paper and timber
industry.
1. Garvey, C.J., Simon, G.P., & Parker, I.H., "On the interpretation of paper x-ray diffraction powder patterns in terms of the nanostructure of cellulose I fibres" , Macromol. Chem. Phys., 206, 1568 (2005).
2. Keckes J, Burgert I, Frühmann K., Müller M., Kölln K., Hamilton M., Burghammer M., Roth S.V, Stanzl-Tschegg S. & Fratzl P. "Cell-wall recovery after irreversible deformation of wood", Nature Materials 2, 811-814 (2003)
3. Martinschitz, K.J., Boesecke, P., Garvey, C.J., Gindl, W. & Keckes, J., "Structural changes in cyclically deformed dry coir fibers studied by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction", in press, J. Mat. Sci. (2006).

Further details
This work is part of collaboration between Curtin University of Technology (Perth) and ANSTO in Sydney. At Curtin you will be based in the Centre for Materials Research (CMR).
The successful candidate will receive an additional $10,000/year top-up scholarship from ANSTO. In addition the successful candidate can apply for an AINSE Postgraduate Research Award. The closing date for APA/CUPS application is 31 October 2006.
For Further information please contact A/Prof Craig Buckley (tel. 08 9266 3532, email: C.Buckley at curtin.edu.au) or Chris Garvey (tel. 02 9717 9328, email cjg at ansto.gov.au).
or website http://www.biophysics.org.au/Jobs/index.html#ANSTO1

Dr Chris Garvey
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234
phone 02 9717 9328
fax 02 9717 9286
mobile 0409 225 881
c me @ http://www.ansto.gov.au/nugeo/staff/garvey.html

 "With the departure of the child he noticed regret and the diminishing of possibilities."
Silesian Prophesies by Peter Kant


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