Research Internships in the Valvano Lab

 

Research Internships (e.g. Summer students) opportunities are usually available in my laboratory for highly committed students to 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 and epithelial cells 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 no heteroresistance and intrinsic resistance (e.g. polymyxins).

(c) elucidating the structure and function of membrane proteins that are involved in the assembly of lipid-linked glycans including Lipid modification enzymes, O-antigen synthesis and protein glycosylation.

Our research programme provides an excellent environment for learning and 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, antimicrobial resistance).

We are particularly interested in building and maintaining a multidisciplinary research team. Therefore, these positions should be particularly attractive to 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 know what to expect in my lab read this prior to contacting me.

The applicants must be enrolled in a B. Sc. program from any university in the United Kingdom or in any equivalent international programme and should have demonstrated superior academic achievement as well as keen interest in research.

Students with strong interests in molecular biology/biochemistry research and who fulfill the criteria for academic excellence outlined above can be sponsored to apply to the Biochemistry Society or the Microbiology Society for a Summer Vacation Studentship. For these awards it is important to prepare and apply early, so please contact me no later than by November the year prior to the expected summer rotation in my lab. Alternatively, students can apply directly to the Centre for Experimental Medicine Summer Studentship programme.

Prior to applying for an internship to the Valvano lab, the applicants should contact Dr. Valvano, and provide a curriculum vitae, unofficial copy of academic transcripts, and the names of two references (including telephone and e-mail) to:

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

 

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