Research assistant (praedoc) (m/f/d) - Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin - Institut für Veterinär-Physiologie

Job description:
As members of the German Research Foundation (DFG)-funded Research Training Group (GRK) 3096 “One Health Approach to Soil-Transmitted Helminths,” successful applicants will work on scientific projects in an interdisciplinary manner within a structured program. The projects address the three “One Health” aspects: 1) human roundworm infections (close cooperation and fieldwork in Kenya/Africa), 2) roundworm infections in farm animals (chickens and pigs in Germany), and 3) environmental factors (sociological and economic field studies in Kenya and Germany).
The GRK will thus incorporate human, animal, and environmental aspects into the research and training of candidates in order to train “One Health” infectious disease specialists. After four years of training in the structured doctoral program and the acquisition of at least 30 CP, candidates have the opportunity to obtain a certificate for the successful completion of a graduate school.
The project of Veterinary Physiology (P3) focuses on the following aspects:
P3: Metabolic cross-talk between parasites and host in ascarid infections.
Ascarids are known to change their metabolism during life cycle from mitochondrial to cytosolic malate metabolism, with anthelminthics targeting metabolism. This project aims to understand possible metabolic differences between ascarid species during the life cycle and whether these differences are intrinsically imposed or depend on metabolic cues in the host microenvironment. To assess metabolic pathways in tissue context, we developed label-free NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). We previously found (i) that during the life cycle of helminths, i.e., H. bakeri in mice, both bioenergetic and defense metabolism change, paralleling their locomotion in the gut, (ii) Ascaris suum L3 larvae use different metabolic pathways in distinct body regions, (iii) with Artemisinin derivatives not interfering with dominant parasitic metabolic pathways. Using NAD(P)H-FLIM, the doctoral researcher will characterize the metabolism of three ascarid species during infection course, in tissue context vs. isolated parasites. Samples will be obtained from pig and chicken studies conducted jointly by the research training group in Germany and as part of a joint study in an Ascaris endemic area in Kenya. For the studies in Kenya, the doctoral researcher will build a robust fluorescence camera-based microscope with FLIM capacity. In conclusion, the doctoral researcher of P3 will study intrinsic and extrinsic factors driving ascarid metabolism and facilitate ascarid field investigations based on fluorescence microscopy.
Lab and working location will be at the German Rheumatology Research Center,
Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin-Mitte.

Requirements:
Master or similar degree in a relevant subject (e.g., Parasitology, Biology, Veterinary Medicine, Biochemistry or similar)
Desirable:

• Knowledge of English language – written and oral (English is the program‘s language- though without English language skills, a membership in RTG 3096 is not possible)
• Knowledge of Biophysics / Medical Physics / Biophysical Chemistry / computational-based research
• Scientific and technical knowledge of microscopy / spectroscopy
• Interest in Parasitology (Helminths) / Veterinary Medicine
• Interest in interdisciplinary working (with ecological modeler, social scientists, economists, immunologists, parasitologists)
• Skills to work in a team, time management
• Interest in short-lived field work in Kenya / Africa
  Further Information on the Research Training Group „One Health“ and all offered positions:
  https://www.vetmed.fu-berlin.de/en/einrichtungen/sonstige/grk3096

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