Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d)

The research group Nanoscale Infection Biology (NIBI) is offering a position as Postdoctoral Researcher.

As a member of the Helmholtz Association, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, based in Braunschweig, conducts top-level research in the field of infectious diseases. Our scientists develop novel methods and strategies to fight infectious diseases faster and more effectively. Our common goal is to develop novel approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Our research focuses on bacterial and viral pathogens, their interaction with the human immune system and new effective substances and vaccines.

About our group: Research in our group aims to understand how viruses use and alter cellular structures for cell entry and assembly, how they exploit and control plasma membrane signaling and if these mechanisms can be used to inhibit virus infection. The HZI is a multidisciplinary research center devoted to understand and combat infectious diseases.

About the project: Viruses are nanoscale entities. The cellular plasma membrane represents the first obstacle viruses need to overcome to initiate infection. Our group recently developed an inverted infection assay (Broich, bioRxiv, 2024) that can be used to investigate virus-cell interaction at the nanoscale. The project is part of a larger European consortium with the aim to identify virus-interacting cellular factors, investigate their role in infection and target them with small molecules and antibodies. Our group at HZI will focus on studying receptor organization, virus-receptor signaling and virus entry. We will use super-resolution single-molecule microscopy in combination with single-virus tracking to get mechanistic insights into the first minutes of the infection process. Tasks

• Scientific work as part of an interdisciplinary project in a larger European team

• Development and optimization of our infection platform for ventral infection of epithelial cells

• Research in the field of virus-cell biology using advanced live cell imaging in laboratories up to BSL3, The HZI is actively committed to equality, diversity and integration. For this reason, the HZI pursues the goal of professional equality between women and men. The position is suitable for part-time work.

Ihr Profil

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and international team

• Experiences with independent planning of experimental methods

• Experience of working in an S2 laboratory

• Good written and spoken English skills

• Good knowledge of methods in cell biology and microscopy,

• Doctorate/PhD in the field of cell biology, virology or comparable

• Experimental knowledge in virology

• Expertise in advanced microscopy techniques (super-resolution, single-molecule imaging)

• Expertise in custom computational data analysis, programming

Wir bieten Ihnen

• An attractive and varied job in a future-oriented research institute with an international environment at the Science Campus South in Braunschweig

• A state-of-the-art infrastructure and the latest technologies

• Flexible working hours, part-time models as well as home office

• A corporate culture of appreciation and promotion of equal opportunities

• Extensive training and continuing education opportunities to develop professional knowledge and personal skills

• A family office to support family and career as well as childcare offers

• Interesting additional public service benefits

• Possible subsidy of a job-ticket for public transport