Postdoctoral researcher position for a transdisciplinary research on medieval parchment materials from Orval Abbey (University of Namur, Belgium)
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/169223 <https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/169223> ORGANISATION/COMPANY: Universite de Namur RESEARCH FIELD: Biological sciences,Zoology, Analytical chemistry, Instrumental analysis Chemistry, Instrumental techniques, Molecular chemistry, Applied physics, Biophysics, Physics. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01/06/2017 23:00 (Europe/Brussels) LOCATION: Belgium, Namur TYPE OF CONTRACT: Temporary JOB STATUS: Full-time HOURS PER WEEK:38 OFFER STARTING DATE: 01/09/2017 Summary: In the frame of the Pergamenum21 research program, with the support of the Fondation Roi Baudouin, the University of Namur offers a 1-year full-time postdoctoral researcher position for a transdisciplinary research on medieval parchment materials from Orval Abbey. The main objective is to use mass spectrometry techniques for the identification of the animal origin of parchments, which might help answering long pending questions about the production and use of parchment in medieval society. The research will consist in carrying on systematic proteomics analyses on both library books and charters, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The selection of samples and the interpretation of results will be done in close collaboration with historians. The candidate must have a PhD in Physics, Chemistry or Biology, with a background experience in mass spectrometry, fulfil international mobility conditions and show strong personal interest for cultural heritage science and histor y. Detailed description: The University of Namur (Belgium) offers a full-time position (12 months) for a post-doctoral research on parchments (subject to evaluation at the end of the contract, possibility is offered to renew the contract once for 12 additional months). The candidate must have a PhD in Physics, Chemistry or Biology, with a background experience in mass spectrometry, fulfill international mobility conditions and show strong personal interest for cultural heritage science and history. The researcher will work in a trans-disciplinary research group (www.pergamenum21.eu <http://www.pergamenum21.eu/>) and will use time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) techniques for the identification of the animal origin of parchments. Based on previous investigations of our group and others, the knowledge of the animal species (mainly calf, sheep, goat) in parchment folios, which differ among codices or even among folios of the same codex, is key information for historians. Ultimately, this knowledge might help answering long pending questions about the production and use of parchment in medieval society. In a first step, a series of samples will be taken from each manuscript and charter of the selected corpus from Orval Abbey library and the animal species will be identified using a protocol that has already been validated by researchers of our group. The protocol involves non-invasive sampling of the parchment and extraction of collagen proteins which are then digested by trypsin to produce peptides. The animal species is identified from measurement of the peptides mass and/or determination of the amino acids sequence in fragmented peptides, followed by manual and computer-assisted matching of mass/sequences with those found in collagen database. In the first step of the project (limited set of samples), liquid chromatography followed by electrospray ionization (ESI) will be used in a tandem mass spectrometer configuration (ESI-TOF MS/MS) available at the Univer sity of Namur and for which we have established a set of specific peptide sequences (biomarkers) to determine the species of interest (goat, sheep, calf). A high-throughput MS technique will be used in the second step of the project for systematic measurements on different folios of selected manuscripts and charters. High-throughput measurements of peptides mass will be performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Access to MALDI-TOF-MS apparatus will be made available thanks to collaboration with another university. The candidate will develop a species identification procedure, validate it in partnership with experts in the field and apply it to systematic screening of Orval Abbey parchments. Offer Requirements: REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVEL: Physics: PhD or equivalent,Chemistry: PhD or equivalent, Biological sciences: PhD or equivalent REQUIRED LANGUAGES: ENGLISH: Excellent Skills/Qualifications: Experimental skills in mass spectrometry techniques. Specific Requirements: Proteomics, Mass Spectrometry. ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Archives through August 2016 at http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ Archives from September 2016 onward at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
