Wissenschaftliche/r Mitarbeiter/in mit dem Forschungsschwerpunkt Virologie und RNA-Biochemie PhD student in the field of virology and RNA biochemistry in Deutschland bei Justus Liebig Universität Gießen

Founded in 1607, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is a research university rich in tradition. Inspired by curiosity about the unknown, we enable around 26,500 students and 5,700 employees to advance science for society. Join us in breaking new ground and writing success stories - your own and those of our university.

Support us as of now in part-time (65 %) as a

PhD student (m/f/d)

in the field of virology and RNA biochemistry

The successful candidate is expected to work on a project focusing on structures and functions of conserved RNA structural elements in alphacoronavirus genomes in the context of a research program (CoroPan) funded by the HMWK.

The position is to be filled on a fixed-term basis in accordance with § 2 WissZeitVG and § 72 HessHG with the opportunity of own academic qualification at the Institute of Medical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine. If the requirements of the collective agreement are met, remuneration will be in accordance with remuneration group 13 TV-H.

As long as the maximum permissible duration of a fixed-term contract is not exceeded, you will be employed for a period of 3 years.

The project

The project addresses biological functions of conserved cis-acting RNA elements in the 5’- and 3’-terminal regions of coronavirus genomes. Functions in viral RNA synthesis will be studied using recombinant coronaviruses harboring specific mutations in these genome regions. These reverse genetics approaches will be complemented by biochemical studies to characterize RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions that are critically involved in coronavirus replication and transcription. In this context, RNA structure probing technologies (DMS-MaP and SHAPE-MaP) will be used, along with methods suitable to study RNA-protein interactions (RNP-Map, CLIP) focusing on components of the coronavirus replication-transcription complex, the nucleocapsid protein, and selected cis-acting RNA elements.

Your task at a glance

• Generation of genetically modified human and animal coronaviruses and their characterization in cell culture
• Heterologous expression, biochemical and structural characterization of coronavirus proteins and RNA-protein complexes
• The project involves work in a biosafety level 3 laboratory for which a documented protective immunity against the hepatitis B virus is required

Your qualifications and competences

• A university degree in biology (MSc), biomedicine (MSc), biochemistry (MSc), medicine, veterinary medicine, or equivalent
• Very good knowledge of biochemistry, molecular biology and virology
• Experience with cell culture, cloning, molecular biological and biochemical methods and handling of viral and/or bacterial pathogens
• Experience with basic bioinformatics /computational tools and software (protein-ligand docking, protein structure modelling/prediction, molecular dynamic simulation), experience with using the STRING database (protein-protein interaction networks)
• Experience in performing thermal shift assays
• Excellent English language skills, ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Protective immunity against hepatitis B virus (anti-HBs titer >100 IU/L)

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Ramakanth Madhugiri (Ramakanth.Madhugiri@viro.med.uni-giessen.de)

JLU aims to employ more women in academic research. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply. JLU is regarded as a family-friendly university. Applicants with children are very welcome. Applications from disabled people of equal aptitude will be given preference.

You want to break new ground with us?

Apply via our online formby July 6th, 2023, indicating reference number 384/11. We look forward to receiving your application.

Back