PhD Position in Neurological Sciences
University of Bern
Switzerland

About the Research

Our research is driven by a passion to uncover the critical stages in the life cycle of morbilliviruses, such as canine distemper virus (CDV), and understand how they cause disease. These viruses are notorious for triggering severe immune and respiratory disorders, and in the case of CDV, they can also often invade the brain, leading to neurological damage in dogs. While vaccines are available, the development of effective antiviral therapies remains a vital priority for controlling these infections—a challenge our lab is committed to tackling. We focus on designing both host-targeted and virus-targeted antivirals, ranging from small-molecule compounds to multivalent synthetic single-chain antibodies.

In this project, we aim to unravel the mechanistic and structural secrets of the highly conserved envelope fusion protein shared by measles virus (MeV), CDV, feline morbillivirus (FeMV), and porcine morbillivirus (PoMV). By mapping these molecular details, we not only shed light on morbillivirus evolution and their potential to jump between species but also lay the groundwork for discovering potent neutralizing single-domain antibodies and derived engineered multivalent constructs with broad, cross-morbilliviral activity.

Tasks

• You will be a key member of the team.

• You will employ multiple techniques in:

  • Virology: reverse genetics, viral production, viral neutralization assays

  • Biochemistry: Western blots, ELISA, co-immunoprecipitation assays, protein engineering, protein expression/purification

  • Biophysics: surface plasmon resonance

  • Molecular biology: cloning, mutagenesis

  • Cellular biology: transfections, flow cytometry assays, immunofluorescence analyses, confocal microscopy

• You will also identify and employ camelid-derived nanobodies as antiviral candidates.

Requirements

• Master's degree in biological sciences, (veterinary) medicine, or related fields

• You are a team player with strong intrinsic motivation and interest in wet lab work

• Curiosity and interest in infectious diseases

• Good level in English and communication skills

• Experience in protein chemistry is a plus

We offer

• Dedicated scientific support and mentoring

• A small research group with highly motivated members

• A multidisciplinary, collaborative, friendly, and motivating working environment

• Salary according to SNSF regulations

• Membership in the Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences Bern (GCB)

• Attractive location in Bern

Application

For applications (motivation letter, CV, and references) or further inquiries, please contact:
Philippe Plattet – philippe.plattet@unibe.ch

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We look forward to welcoming passionate people to our group!

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