Strategies to escape viral infection in archaea

Project description:

In this 3-year PhD project you will work with archaea and their viruses isolated from hypersaline environments. We study how these viruses infect cells and how they recognize and attach to their host cell. With a combination of molecular biology, microbiology, electron- and light microscopy tools, the selected applicant will study the importance of the cell surface for viral entry. Specifically, the PhD student will focus on the changes at the archaeal cell surface that are required for viral resistance. This will give insight into mechanisms of defense against viruses acting at the cell surface, and will help to understand how viruses can contribute to the evolution of the archaeal cell surface.

Keywords

Archaea, archaeal virus, virus-host interaction, infection mechanism, biofilm formation

Entry requirements

MSc degree in Biology, Molecular Biology or equivalent. Affinity for microbiology, virology and molecular biology are important. Practical experience in these fields is a plus. The applicant should be willing to bring research visits to collaborating laboratories in other countries to perform part of their experiments.

Location

Faculty of Biology, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

Starting date

September 1st 2021

Funding

limited to 3 years

How to apply

Please apply via the HFA application portal.

The Hector Research Career Development Awardees will arrange interviews (via skype or if feasible in-person) with the most promising applicants. The final candidates will be invited for a personal presentation on July 8, 2021 in Bremen (Germany). The final decisions will be announced by August 2021.

Application Deadline

March 31st, 2021

Enquiries

For further details about the project, please contact the Hector Research Career Development Awardee at: tessa.quax@biologie.uni-freiburg.de

For questions related to making your application, pleasecontact Hector Fellow Academy Office: application@hector-fellow-academy.de or www.hector-fellow-academy.de