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