The PhD candidate will be performing research at the interface of virology, structural biology, and drug design using state-of-the art protein crystallography and/or single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). There is plenty of space for an enthusiastic candidate to tailor their projects based on their interests. The candidate will be working in a highly international, multidisciplinary environment consisting of synthetic chemists, structural biologists, virologists, and cell biologist allowing for an effective and cooperative methodological and topical exchange.
PhD project on structurally and biochemically characterising proteins involved in the viral hijacking of mitochondrial function. Viruses have evolved sophisticated methods to hijack host cell functions to benefit replication. Some of the most important cellular processes are tightly linked to mitochondrial function, such as cellular homeostasis, metabolism, and innate immunity. Especially for the latter viral genomes encode for proteins that prevent proper innate immune signalling allowing for the virus to replicate. Among these mechanisms is the prevention of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, which is triggered upon a viral infection, by expressing viral Bcl-2 homologues. The candidate will use a highly integrative structural biology approach to structurally and biochemically characterise these proteins and use bottom-up drug discovery approaches to identify novel small molecule compounds that can prevent the function of these viral proteins. The candidate will be trained in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic recombinant protein expression, macromolecular x-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, biophysical methods, and classical virology experiments.
The vacancy is at the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, (Primary Supervisor: Assistant Professor Dr Karim Rafie), Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen. The research of Dr Rafie is aimed at elucidating the precise structural and molecular mechanisms of how viruses co-opt host cell mechanisms to benefit replication and to use this knowledge to develop novel antivirals. We offer a stimulating research environment for PhD students interested in structural biology, structure-guided drug development, protein biochemistry as well as cell biology, and virology. The department’s research laboratories are well equipped for molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and tissue culture work. In addition, local access to an X-ray generator and cutting-edge cryo-EM facility is provided.
