*At the Structural Biology Brussels laboratory (Vrije Universiteit
Brussel / VIB), we are looking for a highly motivated PhD student
interested in biochemical and structural studies on enzymes involved in
bacterial persistence.
***
*VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) is an interdisciplinary
non-profit research institute based at 4 Flemish universities and
employs a vibrant community of 1000 life scientists. The Structural
Biology Brussels lab focuses on the functioning of proteins in all its
aspects. Our multidisciplinary team of about 70 researchers is housed in
new laboratory facilities and combines extensive expertise in structural
biology (X-ray crystallography, NMR, EM and atomic force microscopy),
biophysics, enzymology and molecular biology.
*
*Project description:**The research topic deals with the structural and
functional characterization of enzymes involved in the acquisition of
the persistence phenotype in the human pathogen /P. aeruginosa/.
Persisters are highly multidrug-tolerant cells that constitute a small
fraction of a population and are largely responsible for biofilm
tolerance to antibiotics. Through collaboration with the group of Prof.
J. Michiels (Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KULeuven), we will
combine the genetic analysis of persistence, with detailed biochemical,
biophysical and structural /in vitro/ studies, in order to contribute to
a complete mechanistic understanding of the principles underlying
persistence. *During your PhD you will be studying the functioning and
regulation of these enzymes and their interaction partners, using an
approach of X-ray crystallography, enzyme kinetics and different
biophysical methods.***
*For more information also see www.verseeslab.structuralbiology.be
*Profile:**Candidates should have a recent Master degree in
Biochemistry, Bio-engineering, Biology, Chemistry or related. Skills in
either molecular biology or protein chemistry & purification or protein
crystallography would be an asset. *
*
Please send applications (including CV, research experience, and at
least two names and contact information for references)
towim.vers...@vib-vub.be*
With best regards,
Wim
------------------------------------------------------------------
Wim Versées, PhD
Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
VIB Department of Structural Biology
Pleinlaan 2,
1050 Brussel,
Belgium
T: +32 2 6291849
F: +32 2 6291963
e-mail: wim.vers...@vib-vub.be
www.verseeslab.structuralbiology.be
------------------------------------------------------------------
