Research Group Scherer
Since March 2023, we are an independent, new research group at the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, funded by the NRW Returning Scholars Programme. As microbial pathogens, viruses are one of the largest causes of infectious diseases. Our focus is to better understand viruses and their replication, since the formation of new virus particles in the host cell is a highly complicated and crucial process for infection. High resolution light microscopy is our preferred tool to visualise and measure the dynamics and mechanisms of virus replication. This is used to answer medically relevant questions - such as the optimisation of virus-based vaccines.
We collaborate with other research groups in Bonn and internationally and seek to build an interdisciplinary team. Therefore we are looking for PhD students from the fields of microbiology, biophysics, chemistry and engineering. Please contact us if you are interested in virus-host interactions and bioimaging!
Available topics for Bachelor and Master projects
- Building a 3D cell culture system to study virus transmission through cell-cell contacts.
- Development of staining methods for viral RNA in many colours simultaneously.
- In vitro expression and purification of viral structural proteins to study virus assembly.
If you are interested and would like to know more details, please contact Dr. Katharina Scherer.
We also offer an internship for international Bachelor and Master students as part of the Neuroscience Internship Program. The internship will take place for 8-10 weeks in summer 2024. The application deadline is February 15, 2024. You can find more information about the programme and application here.
Contact
Dr. Katharina Scherer
U.041
Meckenheimer Allee 168
53115 Bonn