Research projects in: Microbiology

Leiden University , 1 or 2 semesters
The research is focused to unravel the molecular mechanisms which allow the fungus to interact with its environment using genetic, cell-biological and genomics approaches.
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Research projects in: Microbiology
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While growing in their natural environment, fungi have to react continuously on changes occurring in their environment. Fungi have developed a number of different response mechanisms to react on the environmental changes to sustain growth and reproduction. The research aim of the sub-section is focused to unravel the molecular mechanisms which allow the fungus to interact with its environment using genetic, cell-biological and genomics approaches. Our mission is to understand the molecular mechanisms used by the fungus to respond on internal signals like unfolded protein stress and external signals such as cell wall disturbing agents, plant defence signals and sensing of (complex) nutrients in the environment using Aspergillus niger as our model fungus.

Research themes:

  1. Stress responses in filamentous fungi: misfolded protein stress
  2. Stress responses in filamentous fungi: cell wall stress
  3. Sensing and transcriptional regulation of carbohydrate modifying enzymes
  4. Establishment and maintenance of polarized cell growth     
  • Duration of participation in the project: minimum of 5-6 months.

Prerequisites

  • High level (3rd or 4th year) undergraduate student
  • Minimum GPA 3.4
  • A profound knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology is necessary.

Important note: 

Students must remain registered as an undergraduate student at their U.S. or Canadian home institution while participating in the program. The student's home institution must complete the Learning Agreement after acceptance into a project, even if credits will not be transferred to that institution. Transfer of credits is decided by the students' home institution.

Submitting an application, does not guarantee that the student will be offered a placement. The research projects are also available to our domestic degree students; therefore, projects may already be full at the time of applying. Final decision on your admission is solely taken by the Research Supervisor at the host institution.

Faculty Department

Faculty of Science / The Institute of Biology (IBL).

The Institute of Biology (IBL) brings together biologists working in many different subdisciplines (from ecology to evolutionary biology to molecular biology and metabolomics). Research focuses on different levels, from molecule to cell, to organism to population. Studies deal with microorganisms, plants, fungi and animals (mainly insects and fish). Details can be found at the website of the IBL.