Doctoral Student Positions in the Valvano Lab

PhD 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).

I am 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 know what to expect in my lab read this prior to contacting me.

The applicants must be recent graduates from the United Kingdom or any appropriate international programme and should have demonstrated superior academic achievement. The applicants should formally apply for admission to Queen's University.

I strongly recommend that prospective PhD applicants:

1. Contact me prior or immediately after applying to discuss details on possible or advertised projects. It is critical for both applicants and myself to discuss options before the formal application process.

2. In your email, indicate why are you interested in my labortoary and attach a curriculum vitae, copy of transcripts, and the names of up to three references (including telephone and e-mail). Do not send me open letters of reference; I do not consider those credible.

Please, send the information 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

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