European Union Doctoral Network StraDiVarious: Structural studies of transport and binding in a[...]

Goethe University Frankfurt; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading German university is offering a PhD position focusing on bacterial adhesion and virulence. Candidates must have a Master’s degree in microbiology or a related field, with strong interpersonal and communication skills. The role includes research on bacterial strains and their interactions with host tissues, utilizing advanced genomic and proteomic techniques. The position is funded under the European MSCA program.

Leistungen

International research environment

Access to advanced laboratory equipment

Support for academic publications

Qualifikationen

• Solid theoretical understanding of infection biology and medical microbiology.
• Documented experience in bacterial genome analysis or protein expression.
• Experience with bacterial mutagenesis or infection assays.

Aufgaben

• Analyze adhesin diversity in bacterial strains using comparative genomics.
• Generate bacterial mutants and perform protein purification.
• Identify host cell receptors involved in bacterial infection.

Kenntnisse

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Independence

Teamwork

Ausbildung

Master’s degree in microbiology, molecular biology, or related field

Tools

CRISPR-Cas9 technology

Jobbeschreibung

Organisation/Company Goethe University Frankfurt Research Field Medical sciences Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Germany Application Deadline 6 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Professor Volkhard Kempf

About the network

StraDiVarious (Strains, Diagnostics and Variants) (www.stradivarious.eu) is a European-wide intersectoral doctoral training network focussed on emerging bacterial threats – specifically the ESKAPE pathogens ( Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp). Our goal is to make a difference in the development of next-generation strain-specific rapid diagnostics, and to help find potential drug/vaccine targets.

About the Project

Closely related bacterial strains can differ dramatically in their ability to cause disease. A major factor behind this variation lies in adhesins that mediate bacterial binding to host tissues and initiate infection. We are interested how adhesin diversity influences bacterial virulence and aim to identify molecular features that distinguish high- and low-virulence strains. Using comparative genomics, we will analyse the set of adhesins expressed by "real world" bacteria, within and across species to differentiate patient infecting "colonizing strains" (with low virulence) from "killer strains" (with high virulence). These strains will be made available from the routine diagnostic laboratories of the institute. Genome analysis performed in collaboration with Prof. Ingo Ebersberger (Goethe University Frankfurt). Genes of interest will be recombinantly expressed (e.g., in E. coli) or deleted in the respective patient isolates. Virulence will be determined by analysing bacterial binding, e.g., to matrix proteins or host-cells. Protein interaction of adhesins with matrix components and integrin receptors will be done via surface plasmon resonance in collaboration with Prof. Dirk Linke (University of Oslo).

Methods will include the generation of bacterial mutants, protein expression and purification, and both cellular infection assays and adhesion assays to matrix proteins. An integral part of the work is the identification of host cell receptors using, e.g., CRISPR-Cas9 technology. For microscopic analysis, a brand-new Zeiss Apotome microscope is available allowing real-time microscopy of infection processes.

Candidates admitted to the PhD programme at Frankfurt University must fulfil requirements listed here: Goethe-Universität — Doctorate. In addition, a pplicants must have (i) a solid theoretical understanding of infection biology and medical microbiology, (ii) a master’s degree or equivalent in microbiology, molecular biology, or a related field at the time of admission to the program, and (iii) documented experience in at least one of the following areas: bacterial genome analysis, bacterial gene cloning and protein expression, bacterial mutagenesis, or cell culture–based infection assays.

We are an international team of researchers, physicians, technicians, and students from various scientific and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, our colleagues must have strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and the capacity to work independently on complex projects from planning and execution to presenting results and scientific writing.

How To Apply

To be considered for this project you MUST submit a formal online application: full details on eligibility and how to apply can be found on the StraDiVarious website: www.stradivarious.eu. We encourage students to apply to up to three different positions in the doctoral network.

Your application formmustbe accompanied by a number of supporting documents by the advertised deadlines. Without all the required documents submitted at the time of application, your application will not be processed and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications may not be considered. If you have queries regarding making an application, please contact the StraDiVarious team at [e-mail].

Equality, Diversity and Accessibility

Equality, diversity and accessibility are fundamental values at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main. The full Equality, diversity and accessibility information can be at Goethe-Universität — Diversity Policies.

Funding Notes

This is a three year European Doctoral Network training position, open to qualified applicants from around the world without preconditions, with the exception that they must not have resided in Germany for more than 12 of the last 36 months at the time of taking up the position.

In addition to the eligibility criteria (link to heading below), candidates admitted to the PhD programme at Frankfurt University must fulfil requirements listed here:

• Interviews: February 9th and 13th, 2026 (be available both days)
• Duration: 3 years

The gross salary is calculated in line with MSCA guidelines and composed of approximately 4,010 EUR living allowance (x the relevant country coefficient , for more information see MSCA Work Programme ) and 710 EUR mobility allowance. In addition, a family allowance of 660 EUR will be included if the corresponding criteria set out in the MSCA Work Programme are fulfilled. These rates include all employer and employee's taxes and contributions.

References

• Dichter, A. A., Winklmeier, F., Munteh, D., Ballhorn, W., Becker, S. A., Averhoff, B., Bonig, H., Goldman, A., García-Quintanilla, M., Solis, L., Tsukayama, P. and Kempf, V. A. J. (2025) Porin A and α/β-hydrolase are necessary and sufficient for hemolysis induced by Bartonella bacilliformis. Nature Comm (revised version submitted)
• Vaca, D.J., Frenzel, F., Garcia Torres, S., Leisegang, M.S., Günther, S., Bender, D., Kraiczy, P., Göttig, S. Kempf, V.A.J. Adhesion of human pathogenic bacteria to endothelial cells is mediated by fibronectin. Microbes and Infection 2023, 25(7): 105172:105172. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105172.
• Thibau, A., Hipp, K., Vaca, D.J., Chowdhury, S., Malmström, J., Ballhorn, W., Linke, D., Kempf, V.A.J. Long-read sequencing reveals genetic adaptation of Bartonella adhesin A among different Bartonella henselae isolates. Frontiers Microbiology 2022 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.838267 .
• Dichter, A.A., Schultze, T.G., Wenigmann, A., Ballhorn, W., Latz, A., Ventosilla Lopez, P., Guerra Allison, H., Ugarte, C.A., Tsukayama, P., Kempf, V.A.J. Identification of immunodominant Bartonella bacilliformis proteins: a combined in silico and serology approach. Lancet Microbe DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(21)00184-1 .
• Weidensdorfer, M., Ishikawa, M., Hori, K., Linke, D., Djahanschiri, B., Iruegas, R., Ebersberger, I., Riedel-Christ, S., Enders, G., Leukert, L., Kraiczy, P., Rothweiler, F., Cinatl, J., Berger, J., Hipp, K., Kempf, V.A.J. and Göttig, S. The Acinetobacter trimeric autotransporter adhesin Ata controls key virulence traits of Acinetobacter baumannii. Virulence 2019; 10(1): 68–81.