In this PhD project you will investigate how Influenza A viruses bind and adapt to host glycans. You will combine glycan-based tools, molecular biology, and biochemical or analytical approaches to identify and characterise glycan receptors that drive influenza host and tissue tropism. We explicitly welcome candidates with backgrounds in glycoscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, enzymology, who are excited to work on virus–host interactions.
Your job
You will study how Influenza A viruses interact with complex glycans and how receptor binding evolves across strains and host species. Depending on your background and interests, you will contribute through complementary approaches such as:
- molecular and cell-based assays of influenza receptor binding;
- enzymatic modification or biosynthesis of glycans;
- biochemical characterisation of virus–glycan interactions.
These insights will be integrated to define glycan features that govern influenza attachment and to develop advanced in vitro receptor models reflecting airway tissues.
Your tools:
- Interdisciplinary receptor analysis: you will work with glycan arrays, engineered glycans, influenza binding assays, and—depending on expertise—molecular biology, enzymology, biochemical assays.
- Collaborative environment: you will join a multidisciplinary team spanning chemical biology, glycoscience, and virology, with close collaborations with national influenza researchers.
Your impact:
- Fundamental insight: you will uncover how Influenza A viruses adapt receptor binding to different hosts and tissues, advancing understanding of influenza evolution and host specificity.
- Preparedness: you will help establish physiologically relevant glycan-based receptor models to support pandemic risk assessment and antiviral strategies.
Requirements
We are looking for a candidate who can start in 2027 and brings:
- a completed Master's degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Glycoscience, Virology, or a related field;
- hands-on experience in at least one of the following areas: molecular/cell biology, biochemical or enzymatic assays, glycan or protein analysis;
- interest in virus-host interactions;
- experience with influenza, glycans, or receptor-binding assays (ELISA, microscopy, FACS, arrays);
- strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
Conditions of employment
- a position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
- a gross monthly salary starting at € 3.204 in the first year and increasing annually up to €4.051 in the fourth year, based on full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
- 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
- a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.
In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.
Employer
Universiteit Utrecht
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.
Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community.
All research activities of the department of Pharmaceutical Sciences are carried out within the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS). You will join one of the five research divisions: Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery. This division brings together PIs with expertise in carbohydrate chemistry, bacteriology, virology, and immunology. Our passion for glycoscience unites us, driving research across various fields. We often see chemistry and molecular biology PhD candidates collaborating to tackle key biological questions, leveraging their combined expertise.
The position is in the team of Robert de Vries which studies how Influenza A viruses engage glycans and evolve receptor specificity across hosts. Our work integrates molecular biology, glycomics, and biochemical analysis to understand influenza attachment and tropism. We are a collaborative group that values complementary expertise and interdisciplinary training.
Additional information
For more information, please contact Robert de Vries at r.vries@uu.nl.
Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.
Working at Utrecht University
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