PhD Studentship in Fungal Infections

Post Summary: Aspergillus fumigatus is a mould and opportunistic pathogen that causes diseases in humans. Depending on the individual’s state of health, this can manifest as allergic conditions, such as asthma, non-invasive infections such as chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CA) or aspergilloma, or life-threatening systemic infections, such as invasive aspergillosis (IA). Late diagnosis, limited treatment options and the emergence of resistance to antifungal drugs contribute to the often-fatal outcome of Aspergillus infections. Our group’s basic and translational research focuses on better understanding, diagnosing and treating diseases caused by A. fumigatus and other fungal pathogens.

The PhD student will conduct basic and translational research in a collaborative research environment at the St. James’s Hospital Campus in the Sir Patrick Dun Laboratory. The PhD student will be part of a research group comprising other PhD students, MSc students and undergraduate students, as well as scientists and clinicians. The research will involve investigating fungal cell biology, mechanisms of action of novel antifungal agents, mechanisms of antifungal resistance, and host-pathogen interactions involving A. fumigatus.

The PhD student will build on the group’s long-standing previous work to study the interaction between A. fumigatus and immune cells and to characterise the molecular mechanisms that enable this pathogen to cause infections, survive attacks by innate immune cells (macrophages and neutrophils), and develop resistance to antifungal agents (see selected publications below). The PhD student will learn and apply a wide range of techniques, including cultivation of microorganisms, the isolating and cultivation of immune cells, and the construction of genetically modified microorganisms. Molecular, cell biology and protein biochemistry techniques, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and live cell imaging with automated fluorescence microscopes are routinely used in the research group to investigate and answer these research questions.

Contract Type: Fixed Contract, Full Time.

Application Procedure: Applications should be submitted as a single PDF file by e-mail (subject line: FI2026-W) to Johannes Wagener at [email protected]. Applications should include the following:

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• copies of certificates
• names of (up to three) academic references

An expression of interest and informal enquiries about this post can be made to Johannes Wagener at [email protected].

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