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Project Description

The PhD candidate will study bacterial cell-wall and secreted virulence factors involved in host adhesion and immune evasion. The work centers on virulence factors from Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are ESKAPE pathogens notorious for their biofilm-forming capabilities and their emerging multidrug resistance. In this project, you will identify and characterize the host interactions of these species using methods in quantitative and structural proteomics. The research questions range from characterizing the interactomes of intact bacteria to characterizing that of isolated virulence factors and their domains. Using infection assays, you will establish the importance of selected adhesins in different stages of the infection process and identify host cell receptors. 

The work will be done in close collaboration with groups in the network interested in cellular models for host adhesion, biofilm formation and bioinformatics. The position offers the opportunity of internships with both academic and industrial partners, including the characterization of pathogen adhesion to host cells using a vasculature-on-chip model, and he adhesion of biofilm forming bacteria to biomaterials.

Methods will include quantitative affinity-purification and surface adsorption mass spectrometry using isolated virulence factors and intact bacteria, respectively. Structural proteomics (cross-linking and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry) will be used to map the host-pathogen interface at high-resolution, optionally followed by structural determination of the complexes using cryoEM. These methods are complemented with bioinformatics and structural modelling and docking. Other methods applied include standard methods in molecular microbiology, as well as cellular infection and biophysical adhesion assays.

Mandatory requirements

The candidate must have:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biomedicine or related fields at the time of admittance to the programme.

• Documented experience in at least one of the following areas: mass spectrometry-based proteomics, medical microbiology (ideally in a BSL-2 environment), cell culture and/or cell culture-based infection assays, structural biology as well as bioinformatics and structural modeling. Other requirements include knowledge and practical skills of standard molecular biology laboratory methods and protein characterization.

Desirable qualifications

In addition, it is an advantage if the candidate has:

• A good theoretical understanding of infection biology and medical microbiology

Personal skills:

We are an international team of researchers from very different scientific and cultural backgrounds. The Division of Infection Medicine at Lund University where the group is located, consists of several research groups, comprising of clinicians, preclinical researchers, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, research engineers and technical laboratory personnel. Hence, our colleagues should ideally have

• Good interpersonal communication skills

• The ability to work in interdisciplinary teams

• The ability to work independently on complex projects (from planning and execution to results presentation and scientific writing)

In addition to the eligibility criteria (see below in "How to Apply"), candidates admitted to the PhD programme at the Lund University must fulfill requirements listed here:
https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/admissions/doctoral-studies

Supervisor Lotta Happonen (https://portal.research.lu.se/sv/persons/lotta-happonen)

Hosting institution Lund University (Sweden) (https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/home)

Technical information:

• Position location: Lund, Sweden.

• Application deadline: January 6th, 2026

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

• Project start date: September 1st, 2026

• Duration: 3 years (fourth year funded by Lund University)

How to Apply

Find the eligibility and application requirements below.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must not have been awarded a doctorate previously.
• Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment. See: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks ‘What does the funding cover’
• Candidates must have a high level of English proficiency (demonstrated eg by TOEFL, IELTS certification) or by having been educated in an English-speaking country to age 18.
• Candidates must meet all eligibility criteria as outlined in the individual research project descriptions.
• Candidates must meet the entry requirements of the institution to which they apply.

Application Requirements
The candidates will be selected based on the quality of the application, expertise, work experience, and qualifications. In the first instance, an expression of interest should be lodged containing the following documents (in English) consolidated into one single PDF file. As mentioned above, it will increase your chances if you apply to more than one project.

• A current cv (resumé) (max 2 pages).
• A short cover letter, no more than 600 words, that covers the following:
  1: your motivation and key research experience/achievements that demonstrate independent thinking and your ability to complete a PhD. Evidence the skills you claim with the documents you give us.
  2: the original working title of your MSc or BSc thesis.
  3: The first scientific memory that you have (max 250 words)
• A clear statement if and how and what AI tools you used. We recommend you do not use them.
• The table of contents of your thesis
• A research outline (max 500 words) related to the DC topic in which you suggest how you can meet and develop further the research project described in the project advertisement. Be specific: where in your attached certificates can we find proof of the necessary qualifications for the given position?

The following items will be submitted in separately in the application form.

• We suggest you apply for up to 3 PhD positions in StraDiVarious. If you do, list two other choices in order of preference. (You do not need to provide further information.)
• Details of 2 referees (names, contact details) who can provide additional information about your qualifications.
• Official Academic Record - Bachelor's and Master’s Certificates and Transcripts.
• We expect that, since a Master’s Degree is required, you will either have completed it at the time of application, or will do so with the requisite grades and be able to provide a degree certificate by July 1st, 2026. In such a case, acceptance is conditional.
• Demonstration of English-language proficiency (official certificates from language tests, or based on your schooling and where you grew up).
• If we suspect unreported use of AI-generated text, we reserve the right to check using AI-text detection tools and summarily reject the application. This is consistent with our no-tolerance policy towards plagiarism.

Please note! To be considered for this project you must submit two formal online applications: one at the StraDiVarious website: www.stradivarious.eu and one at the Lund university website: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/vacancies.