Postdoc Position in H5Nx Interactions

Postdoc Position in H5Nx Interactions

Utrecht University - Faculty of Science

Utrecht, Netherlands

Join our international team to investigate how H5N1 influenza A viruses adapt to mammalian hosts. In this postdoc project, you will dissect HA–NA functionalities, study viral evolution across species, and help reveal the molecular basis of host jumps. You will work at the interface of virology, glycobiology, structural biology, and viral pathogenesis.

Your job

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will lead a multidisciplinary project on the molecular determinants of H5N1 adaptation in emerging hosts, including cattle. You will investigate how haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) shift in activity, receptor usage, and stability during host jumps.

Your key responsibilities:

• Performing biochemical, glycan-binding, and enzymatic assays on HA and NA from diverse viral isolates.
• Integrating structural, functional, and evolutionary data to map adaptation signatures.
• Collaborating closely with partners at the Friedrich-Löffler-Institut on virological relevance.
• Publishing high-impact research and present at international conferences.
• Contributing to supervision of students and support collaborative lab projects.
• Developing your scientific independence, including the opportunity to prepare and submit personal grant applications.

You will collaborate closely with colleagues working on H5N1, H3N2, Coronavirus, multivalency, receptor binding and release profiling, and much more. This diversity allows you to explore ideas across disciplines while shaping your own scientific identity. We encourage independence, curiosity, and career development—including support for applying to personal grants and fellowships.

By joining us, you become part of a mission-driven team aiming to decode how influenza viruses adapt to new hosts and contribute to preventing future zoonotic threats.

Your qualities

Must-have qualifications (you will use these daily):

• A PhD in virology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field – enabling you, to design and interpret functional assays on HA and NA.
• Experience with protein or virus-related laboratory techniques (e.g. cell culture, protein expression, enzymatic or binding assays) to independently run experiments and generate high-quality datasets.
• Strong analytical skills, enabling you to integrate biochemical, structural, and evolutionary data to uncover host-adaptation signatures.
• Effective communication skills, allowing you to collaborate effectively with partners at the Friedrich-Löffler-Institut and present your findings clearly.

Nice-to-have qualifications (not required, but beneficial):

• Experience with glycobiology, structural biology, or influenza evolution, for example using glycan interaction assays, bioinformatics tools, or structural models to refine hypotheses.