Bacterial

2x PhD position (4 years)

The laboratories of Dr. Pieter-Jan Haas (Utrecht University) and Stan Brouns (Delft University of Technology) are looking for two ambitious PhD students to join a nationally funded (ZonMW) research project role of defense and counter-defense systems in phage infection and bacterial response

DESCRIPTION

Bacterial antimicrobial resistance is an emerging health threat severely limiting treatment options for bacterial infections. A promising alternative antibacterial strategy is the use of bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and efficiently kill bacteria. Bacteria have evolved defense mechanisms to protect them from phage infection and bacteriophages, in their turn, have acquired counter defense systems. Last couple of years many new defense and counter-defense systems were identified. We recently described that clinical strains of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common multi resistant pathogen, accumulate phage defense systems to make them resistant for many different phage families. The relevance of these defense and counter-defense systems in the context of phage therapy is currently unknown. One PhD project (Delft) will study how different defense systems are regulated, their interaction with counter-defense systems, and how selected phage defense systems work at the molecular level. 

In the second PhD project (Utrecht) we will study the overall bacterial response to defense system activation. Activation of defense systems may induce a general stress response that affects other bacterial systems like virulence, antibiotic susceptibility or biofilm formation.

Understanding the interaction between phages and bacteria and the role of defense and counter-defense systems is essential in order to develop effective phage therapy.

JOINT PROJECT

The project is a collaboration between TU-Delft (Brouns, Department of Bionanoscience) and UMC-Utrecht (Haas, Medical Microbiology). The research team of Pieter-Jan Haas is embedded in the department of microbiology within the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU). Scientific focus is on bacteriophages and their use in anti-infective therapies. The team is well embedded in the research groups at the department, which provides a stimulating and highly collaborative research environment that studies microbiology with an emphasis host-pathogen interaction and translation to clinical practice. The research team of Stan Brouns focuses on discovering and understanding the mechanisms of phage defense and evasion.

SKILLS

The ideal candidate has excellent skills in the area of molecular biology and (medical) microbiology, including bacterial and/or virus handling. The candidate has shown to be capable of critical scientific thinking, having analytical skills, and is able to come up with research questions and hypotheses. The candidate self-motivated, adaptable, dedicated, positive attitude and has a genuine interest in science and research

Required qualifications

- Strong ability to work independently and with team members

- Excellent communication skills in English (verbal and written)

- Excellent microbiological handling skills

Optional qualifications

- Bioinformatic and computational skills

Please contact Stan Brouns and/or Pieter-Jan Haas (with CV, motivation letter and references.

Position open from May 15, 2024

Apply before: June 15, 2024

Expected starting date: Q3 or Q4 2024

Deadline: open until a suitable candidate has been found (starting May 15, 2024). Applications will be collected and reviewed at the beginning of June.

If you are interested in postdoc or PhD opportunities you are welcome to send your CV. Postdoc candidates are encouraged to apply for a Marie-Curie, VENI, EMBO, Rubicon or other post-doctoral grants, and are looking for a host laboratory, please send me an e-mail with CV.

Calls

Personal grant for PhD's in life sciences (3 years)

NWO VENI Postdoctoral fellow program

Personal grant for PhD's in life sciences (2 years)

NWO Rubicon

Marie Curie EU fellowship (2 years)

EU MC

We currently have vacancies and are always open to recruiting talent.