Research Associate - Leverhulme Trust (fixed term)

Little is known about how eukaryotic pathogens move about in a vertebrate host. We have developed an experimental model based on trypanosome infection of transparent zebrafish larvae that enables the behaviour of trypanosomes and the response of the host to be investigated at single cell resolution in a live vertebrate host. A post-doctoral research assistant position is available to improve the experimental system by developing transgenic trypanosomes expressing sufficient fluorescent protein to allow time lapse imaging of trypanosome movement between tissues and identify any preferred locations for proliferation. Combining these trypanosomes with transgenic zebrafish lines with various immune cell lineages marked with a different fluorescent protein will enable us to characterise the cellular immune response to infection.

The position is funded for three years by an award from the Leverhulme Trust to Mark Carrington in Cambridge and Maria Forlenza in Wageningen. The successful applicant will be expected to work both in Cambridge (UK) and in Wageningen (The Netherlands), probably spending at least 12 months in each location. Applicants should have experience in one or both of the following: 1. Cell biology, preferably with protozoa. 2. Microscopy, preferably live cell imaging. A good background in basic Molecular Biology and/or zebrafish handling is desirable but not required.

For more information, visit the University of Cambridge's jobs website.