Supervisor: Dr. Pedro Matias 

Place of Work: ITQB

Selection Criteria: Seleção de 1-2 candidatos numa entrevista via ZOOM, na semana de 23-27 de junho.

Deadline: 15 de junho.

Details:  Alguns do requisitos são: proficiency in computer usage (Windows or Linux preferred); basic knowledge of lab techniques (e.g., preparation of solutions, pH adjustment).

Work plan: 

• Protein Crystallization – theoretical concepts and preparation of crystallization trials using lysozyme or thaumatin as test proteins – crystals obtained in this step will be used later in the internship.

• Crystals and crystal symmetry; X‐ray sources, single‐crystal diffraction, instruments and methods for diffraction data collection; crystal characterization in practice on the diffractometer.

• The structure factor, electron density maps, the "phase problem" and methods to solve it.

• Diffraction data collection using a crystal previously obtained by the student. Data processing using data collected in-house. Example of data collection and processing at a synchrotron beamline.

• Tutorial on protein crystal structure determination by the molecular replacement and SAD method.

• Building and refining crystal structures – basic theoretical concepts and practical application using the data previously collected by the student.

• Validation of X‐ray crystallographic structures; structural comparison; crystallographic databases. Comparison with other methods for 3D structural analysis. Online computational tools. Job shadowing of ongoing projects. During the internship the student may also be embedded into ongoing projects at the host Lab where he/she will participate in project activities that may include protein expression, production and purification, quality assays and biophysical characterization.