​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Division of Molecular Biology and Huma​​n Gene​​tics​​ ​  

VACANCIES​
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

MSc and PhD projects available

(multiple positions available) ​

Host: TB Genomics Research Group, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Funding:  Project funding is available to conduct experiments, however, students should be willing to find bursary support through different sources (e.g., NRF). Assistance with bursary applications will be provided.

Scope of Research: Investigate the use of fluorogenic probes in different aspects of TB research and diagnostics. These projects open the possibility for collaboration with international researchers, as well as high probability of publication of the work done. We have two different probes that fluoresce upon incorporation into the cell wall of live mycobacteria. These probes can be used to:

1. Determine its usefulness as a phenotypic drug-susceptibility test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

a) RMR-Tre is available for testing of first-line and second-line anti-TB drugs

b) DMN-Tre is available for testing of second-line anti-TB drugs

2. Use a combination of these probes to evaluate fitness or infectivity of different mycobacterial strains in vitro or ex vivo

a) Comparison of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and available in vitro generated mutants with a mutation in the inhA promoter region

b) Comparison of M. tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobacteria.

Please contact Marisa Klopper (marisat@sun.ac.za) with your CV and a short motivation if these projects interest and inspire you.