Vacant job

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked as one of the world's leading universities. We have approximately 46,000 students and 8,500 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our strive to understand, explain, and improve our world and human conditions.

About the Workplace

Professor Vasili Hauryliuk leads the Molecular Enzymology group at the Department of Experimental Medical Science at Lund University. His research group works on the structural and functional characterization of the molecular mechanisms behind bacterial anti-phage defense systems.

Project Description

Bacteria are constantly attacked by viruses, known as bacteriophages. To resist these attacks, bacteria utilize various anti-phage defense systems, the most famous being CRISPR-Cas. In our laboratory, we discover new systems using bioinformatics, validate them in microbiological tests, and subsequently characterize the defense mechanisms at a molecular level. In this project, you will: i) isolate phages infecting soil-dwelling bacteria, ii) test anti-phage defense systems encoded in the target organisms' genomes, and iii) characterize the mechanisms of action of these defenses in detail.

We Offer

Lund University is a government agency, which means you will receive special benefits, generous vacation time, and a favorable occupational pension. We also have a flextime agreement that creates good conditions for work-life balance. Read more on the university's website about working with us: Work with us (https://www.lu.se/en/work-with-us).

Duties and Responsibilities

Employment as a project assistant is intended as an initial step in a career and an opportunity to further deepen and broaden research competence. Your duties will include: i) isolating phages infecting soil-dwelling bacteria, ii) testing anti-phage defense systems encoded in the target organisms' genomes, and iii) characterizing the mechanisms of action of these defenses in detail.

Qualifications

Requirements for employment:

• The successful applicant should hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant natural science field, such as microbiology, molecular biology, or biotechnology.
• Competence in the key approaches to be used in this project: i) Experience working with soil-dwelling bacteria, such as Bacillus and Mesorhizobium, ii) Experience with genetic methods applied to both phages and bacteria, and iii) Experience working with anti-phage defense systems, including mechanistic studies such as the identification of activating signals.
• Knowledge of the biology of soil-dwelling bacteria.
• Knowledge of phage biology, with a special focus on anti-phage defense systems.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Great importance will be attached to personal qualities. The tasks require you to be both structured in your work and self-reliant.

Merits for employment:

• Experience in studying plant-bacteria interactions is an asset.

Other Information

The position is a fixed-term employment for one year at 100% capacity, with a desired start date of 2026-09-01 or by agreement.

How to Apply

The position is applied for via the university's recruitment system. The application must include a cover letter with a motivation for why you are interested in the position and how the position matches your merits. The application must also include a CV, degree certificates or equivalent, and any other documents you wish to submit (copies of transcripts, reference details, recommendation letters, etc.).

The Faculty of Medicine is an operational area within Lund University, responsible for education and research in medicine, healthcare, and health. Education takes place in close collaboration with the healthcare system and is well anchored in the faculty's strong research tradition. The faculty's research spans a broad field within experimental basic research, patient-oriented clinical research, and health sciences research. The Faculty of Medicine, with over 1,800 employees and 3,000 students in Lund, Malmö, and Helsingborg, is a knowledge-intensive meeting place for students, teachers, and researchers from around the world.

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