Share on WhatsApp

Program Opportunity

Active

HIV Molecular Research

University Hospital Düsseldorf
(5/5) - 2 reviews

University Hospital Düsseldorf

Applications are open for Spring 2025

Main Areas of Interest

The main research areas of our group are:

  • Molecular basis of HIV inhibition by cellular restriction factors
  • Molecular basis of cellular permissiveness or repression of lentiviral cross-species transmission
  • Development of a new HIV animal model

A few publications:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022283617301195?via%3Dihub

Experimental techniques you will learn during your program here:

  • Generation of retroviral and lentiviral vector particles
  • Analysis of viral gene transfer, measure infectivity of HIV particles
  • Luciferase quantification
  • Viral assays under BSL-2 conditions
  • Study expression of proteins by immunoblots, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry
  • Study expression of cellular and viral RNAs by quantitative RT-PCR
  • Study protein-protein interaction by co-immunoprecipitation, cross-links and density gradients
  • Isolation of virus particles
  • Molecular cloning of cDNAs into viral and non-viral expression systems
  • Expression in human cells and bacterial cells
  • Protein isolation methods
  • Generation of mutations/deletions/exchanges in viral genes and cellular genes in expression systems
  • CRISPR-CAS9 knock-out of genes

6-12 weeks curriculum

Fellows will be supported to settle down into their new environment (find appropriate accommodation, locate amenities, etc.) and register at the University, during which an ID card will be issued. A desk space will be allocated. Full induction (safety, laboratory practices, personal welfare, etc.) will be provided by the University’s designated staff and by myself. I will arrange an initial meeting with the fellow to discuss the objectives of the training and the expected mechanisms of their fulfillment. Experimental plans with realistic timelines will then be decided.

The fellow will be fully trained to run each experiment. They will then be allowed to attempt the experiment themselves, with the trainer present during their first run. They will be able to engage with me (supervisor) and other members of the laboratory to discuss any aspects of the general running of the laboratory or specific protocols that they require clarifications on. They will also be trained in how to analyze and interpret their data. I will arrange a weekly or bi-weekly meeting with the fellow to discuss and reflect on their progress and decide the next set of experiments based on data generated. A fellow must keep adequate and accurate records of their work using the laboratory book provided.

The fellow will be given the opportunity to partake in research group meetings and other academic activities within the School and the University. They will also be encouraged to present their work orally at a research group meeting at least once before they complete their visit.

Towards the end of the training, I will have a meeting with the fellow to discuss plans to publish their work (if enough data collected) or disseminate their findings in a future conference. They will also be assisted to identify existing or future opportunities, globally or within their original work environment, that the training has empowered them to be eligible and competitive for and how they can be assisted to access them and also integrate the knowledge and skills gained into their further research or professional practice roles.

All throughout the training any particular challenges or specific requests of a fellow will be fully considered to ensure a responsive, relevant and adequate training plan is developed for them.

A Representative Sample Schedule (This can be customized to your needs)

Topic: Identification of residues in APOBEC3 that regulate antiviral activity to HIV-1

Week 1:

  • Introduction into Münk lab, university + hospital, Düsseldorf
  • Report from visiting scientist/student about previous and ongoing work/research/education and plans
  • Introduction into molecular laboratory systems for HIV research
  • Introduction into cell culture
  • Introduction into vector NTI sequence software
  • Discussion of work plan together with directly interacting lab student/scientist
  • Transfection of 293T cells to produce HIV reporter vectors, different A3s (human, rhesus, sooty, chimers hu/rhe)
  • Harvest virions and producer cells, generate protein lysates from cells and pellet virions
  • Infect human cells with HIV reporter viruses
  • Measure luciferase activity

Week 2

  • Westernblot of virions and cell-lysates
  • Organizing results of infection and protein data
  • Model which residues hu/rhesus A3 chimers are important for antiviral activity against HIV
  • Repeat transfection, infection and western blot with selected chimers + wildtype A3s, compare HIV-1, HIV-2, SIVagm
  • Introduction into side-directed mutagenesis and fusion PCR
  • Plan mutations in A3 for gain of function and loss of function mutants
  • Order oligonucleotides for mutation PCR

Week 3

  • If possible in week 3 or 4: quantification of viral particles by reverse transcriptase assay
  • Generate mutant A3s by side directed mutagenesis or fusion PCR
  • Clone PCR products, transform E.coli with cloning plasmids or mutated A3 plasmid
  • Screen bacterial clones, mini preparation
  • Digestion of isolated DNA by restriction enzymes, agarose gels
  • Send positive DNA to sequencing

Week 4

  • Analyze sequence results
  • Either use miniprep DNA for transfection of 293T cells or produce more DNA (midi-prep, maxi-prep)
  • Test novel A3 mutants against HIV-1 and SIVagm

Week 5

  • Optional: either finish unfinished work from week 1 - 4 or
  • Characterization of mutations on protein features as dimerization/oligomerization, in-vitro deamination, in-vivo deamination, subcellular localization by confocal microscopy, RNA /DNA interaction (EMSA or other methods).

Week 6- 12

  • Summarize all results and extend the present project or plan another project
  • Maybe do left over from week 4/5
  • Present all data in seminar for lab

 

For housing and other help here in Duesseldorf

Please ask the Tutor Service for International Researchers (Juno-International): juno-international@hhu.de

Good rooms maybe found here:  https://www.airbnb.de/

I think the best is to talk to JUNO and compare their options to AIRBNB. On the campus plan, we are in building 23.12.

This program has the following durations available:

Duration Fee
2 weeks $875.00
6 weeks $1,500.00
12 weeks $2,750.00

Physicians and scientists from around the world can apply

Host Name: Prof. Carsten Muenk

Affiliation: University Hospital Düsseldorf

Address: Heinrich-Heine-University Build. 23.12-U1-87, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Website URL: https://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/home/en/university-hospital.html

Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

Onsite/On-Campus Program

Fellowship - Basic/Translational/Clinical Research Program
Germany

Application Review Deadline:

Jan 1st, 2024

Featured Reviews

Habip Gedik 1 year ago
(5/5)

Prof. Dr. Carsten Muenk took great care of me from the first day to the last day and constantly guided me to benefit from the program efficiently. He is really busy and tries to get a lot done. In my humble opinion, a post.doc who will help him with his work in the laboratory and supervise his doctoral students. I think we need someone at his level. For example, Dr. Augustin Penda, who completed his doctorate, sometimes came and supported us in our studies, and I learned a lot from him. As an Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology specialist who has been actively involved in HIV treatment for many years, I have never studied the molecular structure of the HIV virus and the molecular level of its fight against the host in such depth. Prof. Dr. Carsten Muenk took great care of me from the first day to the last day and constantly guided me to benefit from the program efficiently. I read about HIV molecular issues from many sources and had the opportunity to practice it in a highly equipped research laboratory. Prof. Dr. I would like to thank Carsten Muenk for arranging my visits to the Virology and Infectious Diseases Clinic at the university. Because I had the opportunity to get information and compare the situation regarding HIV follow-up and treatment in Turkey by talking to the team that follows 2 out of 4 HIV eradication patients in the world. For this reason, Prof. Dr. med. Torsten Feldt, Dr. med. Björn-Erik Ole Jensen and Dr. I would also like to thank Nadine Lübke. I think 6 weeks is too short for the HIV research program. I realized that effective training in this program could only be achieved through a doctoral program. So there were 5 PhD students in the department and I understood why they were working so hard. It is a training that requires a lot of effort and does not require days or nights or weekends. However, this is the only way you can recognize a difficult virus like HIV. It is not possible to conduct molecular studies on HIV everywhere, because it is very difficult to find a well-equipped research center and a laboratory with financial infrastructure. I think the most difficult part is finding a research center like the one in Düsseldorf to continue the work after you finish the program. Prof. Dr. Carsten Muenk's continued support after the program is truly a valuable mentorship. That's why I especially recommend it to those considering the program. I would also like to thank doctoral student Mirriam Mbithe Nzivo, who helped me a lot during the program and continues her friendship by keeping in touch.
Anucha Sangwiman 5 years ago
(5/5)

I had a great experienced during my visit to HIV molecular research lab. Prof. Carsten as my mentor - he was so kind, humble and very enthusiastic to his students including me. He has taken care of me and provided many facilities that made me very comfortable. Moreover, I was surrounded by great colleagues in a very nice environment. In the part of work, I had learned so many techniques and I had an opportunity to do the lab project individually. I am so blessed to be there. Finally, the only thing that I could consider as a disadvantage in this program is some of the applicants may not get a chance to do this program due to lack of financial support - Anucha Sangwiman, Mahidol Univ. Thailand (I am okay to be contacted by future fellows)

Questions and Answers

Commonly asked questions about this program from the host and other attendees.

Please if I pay now when am I going to start the program.

You have a flexible schedule to work with the host mentor and pick a suitable time for you and the host.
Sure
Please reach us at support@trialect.com
You will receive the invitation letter from the host mentor after we connected you to the host.
Sure, we can extend the payment deadline to a later date. Get in touch with us when you are willing to make the payment to invoice accordingly.
Sure, we can extend the payment deadline to a later date. Get in touch with us when you are willing to make the payment to invoice accordingly.
You have to contact the Germany Embassy in your country or the host institute. In the past, Student visa was considered by some
Yes.
You have a flexible schedule to work with the host mentor and pick a suitable time for you and the host.
Yes, sure. Please let us know if when you are willing to pay so we can send you your new invoice.
Regarding the time of your program, either from middle of January till end of February or from the beginning of April for 6 weeks. Other times, later the year are also possible, please let me know what you prefer. Think also about the weather, Jan/February can be cold here.
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-642-02175-6
To find our laboratory in building 23.12. level U1 room 81, download an app MyHHU

Similar Programs

Browse similar fellowship programs
Active
Live Interactive One-On-One (Virtual)
Fellowship - Basic/Translational/Clinical Research Program
United States

Hosted by Prof. Eyal Oren

Active
Onsite/On-Campus Program
Fellowship - Basic/Translational/Clinical Research Program
Italy

(5/5) - 1 reviews
Active
Onsite/On-Campus Program
Fellowship - Basic/Translational/Clinical Research Program
Spain

Hosted by Dr.Felipe Ortega

Active
Onsite/On-Campus Program
Fellowship - Basic/Translational/Clinical Research Program
Malaysia

Hosted by Kok-Keng Tee

Activity Logs

There are 2 new tasks for you in “AirPlus Mobile App” project:
Added at 4:23 PM by
img
Meeting with customer
Application Design
img
img
A
In Progress
View
Project Delivery Preparation
CRM System Development
img
B
Completed
View
Invitation for crafting engaging designs that speak human workshop
Sent at 4:23 PM by
img
Task #45890merged with #45890in “Ads Pro Admin Dashboard project:
Initiated at 4:23 PM by
img
3 new application design concepts added:
Created at 4:23 PM by
img
New case #67890is assigned to you in Multi-platform Database Design project
Added at 4:23 PM by
Alice Tan
You have received a new order:
Placed at 5:05 AM by
img

Database Backup Process Completed!

Login into Admin Dashboard to make sure the data integrity is OK
Proceed
New order #67890is placed for Workshow Planning & Budget Estimation
Placed at 4:23 PM by
Jimmy Bold
Pic
Brian Cox 2 mins
How likely are you to recommend our company to your friends and family ?
5 mins You
Pic
Hey there, we’re just writing to let you know that you’ve been subscribed to a repository on GitHub.
Pic
Brian Cox 1 Hour
Ok, Understood!
2 Hours You
Pic
You’ll receive notifications for all issues, pull requests!
Pic
Brian Cox 3 Hours
You can unwatch this repository immediately by clicking here: https://app.trialect.com
4 Hours You
Pic
Most purchased Business courses during this sale!
Pic
Brian Cox 5 Hours
Company BBQ to celebrate the last quater achievements and goals. Food and drinks provided
Just now You
Pic
Pic
Brian Cox Just now
Right before vacation season we have the next Big Deal for you.

Shopping Cart

Iblender The best kitchen gadget in 2022
$ 350 for 5
SmartCleaner Smart tool for cooking
$ 650 for 4
CameraMaxr Professional camera for edge
$ 150 for 3
$D Printer Manfactoring unique objekts
$ 1450 for 7
MotionWire Perfect animation tool
$ 650 for 7
Samsung Profile info,Timeline etc
$ 720 for 6
$D Printer Manfactoring unique objekts
$ 430 for 8