PhD positions in Molecular Microbiology (2.0 FTE)

Job description

We are looking for two highly motivated and enthusiastic PhD candidates with a strong background in microbiology, bioengineering, bioinformatics or closely related fields to join the Systems Biology of Predatory Bacteria group of Dr Renske van Raaphorst.

The bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus has an unusual life cycle. When the fast-swimming predator encounters a prey bacterium, it attaches to the prey and enters the periplasm. There, B. bacteriovorus grows into a large filament while digesting the prey content, finally dividing into a variable number of daughter cells, leaving only prey debris behind.

B. bacteriovorus can kill a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas spp., making it especially interesting to find out how it recognizes, invades, kills & digests its prey. In the last years, technical advances have been made by different research groups, ...