Post-doctoral Fellowship in Virology

The Scientific Platform Pasteur - USP announces the opening of a postdoctoral position within the Thematic Project Integrated strategy for the study of infectious agents causing emerging and/or neglected diseases transmitted by vectors of global impact.
The vacancy is related to Subproject 3 of Thematic entitled "Impact of Emerging Arbovirus Infections and Viral Infectious Clones, in the real-time study of interactions with their hosts in murine systems". The selected candidate will receive a FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship lasting 24 months.

We have established and validated innovative imaging technologies to visualize the dynamics of trypanosome infection and pathology in vertebrate hosts or in vitro cellular infection processes. In this new stage we are proposing to study the dynamics of ZIKV infection with the use of quantitative bioluminescence and/or fluorescence images with spatial resolution of two- and three-dimensional images combined with bioinformatics techniques to optimize in vitro and in vivo studies, in particular, during brain impairment, using adapted models. The strategy is challenging and will allow us to better understand the virus-host interaction by building a bioluminescent/fluorescent ZIKV-BR strain, applying imaging and bioinformatics tools.

General objective of subproject 3
To study the mechanisms adopted by arboviruses (e.g., ZIKV) during in vitro and in vivo infectious process.

Main objectives of subproject 3
• Explore in real time the interaction of ZIKV with vertebrate hosts by checking the effect of viral replication on various infectious tissues (i.e., nervous system).
• Secondarily, the immunological mechanisms involved in controlling or establishing the pathogenesis will be explored.
1. Activities and experience required
Applicants should have a background in Virology or related fields, preferably with experience on molecular evolution of arbovirus, with interdisciplinary knowledge, able to assist in the orientation and co-orientation of students, assist in the writing and review of scientific work of the research group and work on actions aimed at technology and knowledge transfer.
2. Requirements and skills required for the applicant:
• Have a doctorate in Virology or related areas, completed less than seven years;
• Have a degree in Biological Sciences, Biomedicine, Pharmacy or related areas;
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with a multidisciplinary research group;
• Scientific production in indexed journals;
• Proven experience in:
- Research in areas such as Molecular Virology, Viral Genomics, Viral Evolution;
-Experience in molecular biology methods (RNA extraction, qRT-PCR, next generation sequencing in Illumina platform).
- Experience in bioinformatics tools;
- Use of statistical tools for data processing and analysis;
- Dissemination and transfer of technical-scientific knowledge;
• Priority will be given to candidates with proven experience in bioinformatics tools such as genome assembly and annotation, metagenomics, nucleic acid compositional analysis, phylogenetic analysis and pattern recognition, and statistical analysis of multifactorial data.
3. Documents, deadlines and form of submission:
Applications must be submitted via e-mail, sending a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae or Curriculum Lattes and two letters of recommendation to the project coordinator, Paola Minoprio ( paola.minoprio@pasteur.fr ), by October 15, 2019.

Rationale for the Plan in terms of the objectives of the FAPESP postdoctoral Scholarship Program
Contribute to the knowledge, development and technological adaptation focused on the understanding of neuroinvasion and neurodegeneration caused by pathogen infections; to establish and increase the training of researchers involved in the process, as well as the development of specific skills; highly qualified human resources training for cutting-edge research in Brazil; put Brazil in evidence as a promoter of quality research and relevance in the world scientific scenario.

The main objective of the subproject is to study viral infection in animal models (intra-host level) caused by arboviruses such as the Zika virus (ZIKV) during the infection process. The research will serve as a basis for interface with other subprojects of the thematic study involving infections with infectious clones of ZIKV, modified by reporter genes for analysis of the infectious process in vitro and in vivo by 2D and 3D imaging.

The fellow will participate in the investigation of the interaction of animal and human pathogenic microorganisms with hosts through study of genetic diversity and real time images.
This opportunity is open to candidates of any nationalities. The selected candidate will receive a FAPESP's Post-Doctoral fellowship in the amount of BRL 7.373,10 monthly and a research contingency fund, equivalent to 15% of the annual value of the fellowship which should be spent in items directly related to the research activity.
More information about the fellowship is at: www.fapesp.br/oportunidades/3163/en