3-year PhD project starting 1. April 2015 at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Background and aim: Treatment of biofilm infections remains one of the major unresolved problems in infection microbiology. As bacteria stick to a surface and form a biofilm, e.g. of a medical implant, they become encapsulated in a polymer matrix and enter a physiological state that increases their tolerance to antibiotics dramatically. The infection becomes untreatable because antibiotics cannot be dosed in a concentration that is sufficient to eliminate the biofilm.
We propose that a high local concentration of antibiotics can be obtained by targeting and thus concentrating antibiotics within the biofilm. This can be achieved by nanoencapsulation of antibiotics in particles with specific receptors that recognize the bacterial cell surface or biofilm matrix components.

Project partners: The project is funded by the Danish Council for Independent Research and will employ a post doc focusing on developing the technology encapsulation and controlled release, and a PhD student focusing on developing the targeting technology and evaluation of antimicrobial effect on biofilms (the position advertised here). The PhD project is supervised by Associate prof. Rikke Louise Meyer and Prof. Jørgen Kjems (iNANO, Aarhus University), and collaborates with Aarhus University Hospital and BioModics Aps.

Project focus: The PhD project will initially explore different strategies for targeting drug-loaded particles to Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm, e.g. aptamers, lectins, and antibodies. Successful targeting will be verified by fluorescence labeling and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CSLM) to visualize particles and biofilm in vitro. The antimicrobial effect of free and encapsulated drugs will be evaluated in vitro by high-throughput biofilm viability assays, and in vivo on implant-associated biofilm using a murine model.

Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must have Master Degree (completed before 1. April 2015) in microbiology, molecular biology, or nanoscience. Experience with research in microbiology is preferred. Outstanding grades from BSc and MSc courses are of priority.

PLEASE SUBMIT THIS FORM BEFORE 29. JANUARY 2015, AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU REGARDING THE FORMAL APPLICATION PROCESS (DEADLINE 1. FEBRUARY FOR FORMAL APPLICATON)