Master's Degree Studies in the Valvano Lab

Master's degree studies in the Valvano Lab can be undertaken by enrolling in various programmes at Queen's University Belfast. Two of the most popular programmes are the MSc in Experimental Medicine offered by the Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at the School of Medicine Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, and the MSci Honours Biochemistry offered by the School of Biological Sciences.

We also welcome international MSc students from other programmes wishing to conduct the experimental part of the training in the Valvano lab. International students should contact Professor Valvano directly at m.valvano@qub.ac.uk.

MSc candidates will join a vibrant, world-class team engaged in interdisciplinary studies on microbial pathogenesis using molecular biology, structural, biochemistry, and cell biology approaches. Examples of areas of interest in the lab are:

(a) elucidating the mechanisms underlying host-bacteria interactions in macrophages using the Burkholderia cepacia complex, Achromobacter species, and the Enterobacter cloacae complex as model systems of opportunistic pathogens.

(b) elucidating novel mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in multidrug resistance opportunistic Gram-negative bacteria, with a special focus on heteroresistance and intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial peptides (e.g. polymyxins) and lipopolysaccharide remodelling.

(c) elucidating the structure and function of novel mechanisms to protect bacterial membrane lipids from peroxidation damage upon oxidative stress.

Our research programme provides an excellent opportunity for learning research methodology leading to scientific discovery in cutting edge research areas (membrane biochemistry and structure/function, membrane lipids, outer membrane proteins, bacterial glycobiology, and cell biology) and technology (advanced protein biochemistry, structural and molecular biology, confocal microscopy, genomics, proteomics).

We are particularly interested in building and maintaining a multidisciplinary research team. Therefore, these positions should be particularly attractive to prospective graduate students with Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Cellular Biology undergraduate experience who are interested in learning microbiology and bacterial genetics.

Recent publications representative of our work can be found here.

To find out what to expect in the Valvano lab read this prior to contacting me.

Prospective candidates in the process of selecting projects are encouraged to contact Prof Valvano to discuss any details and ask questions on specific projects available in the lab, as well as questions on expectations and research ethos in the Valvano lab.

Contact information:

Miguel A. Valvano, M.D., Professor
Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom, BT9 7BL

Phone: (44) (0) 28 9097 6025; e-mail: m.valvano@qub.ac.uk

Are you interested in joining our laboratory? Then read more

Do you enjoy adventure and exploration and don't care being frustrated from time to time?
Have you ever wondered how does it feel to discover something new?
You don't like the routine of a life without excitement
You would like to explore the fascinating world of microbiology but you are not a microbiologist
If the answer to all of the above is YES! click on any of the links below as appropriate