PhD: Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Enterovirus CNS Disease

Amsterdam UMC is offering a four-year doctoral position focusing on the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in enterovirus CNS disease within the EU-funded MERIT Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral network. Under the supervision of Dr. Adithya Sridhar and Prof. Dr. Dasja Pajkrt at the OrganoVIR Labs, the researcher will explore the impact of Enterovirus A71 infection on mitochondrial dynamics using human organoid models, advanced microscopy, and transcriptomics. The successful candidate will participate in secondments, network-wide training programs, and collaborative research aimed at identifying therapeutic targets for viral encephalitis and paralysis. The project requires a dedicated graduate with expertise in biomedical sciences and a strong interest in host-pathogen interactions.

• Identify changes to mitochondrial localization, number, and size using super-resolution microscopy in infected organoids.
• Evaluate reactive oxygen species production and measure its consequences on cellular respiration and bioenergetics.
• Analyze transcriptomic changes with a primary focus on mitochondria-specific genes and metabolic pathways.
• Correlate viral infection-induced mitochondrial alterations with functional physiological effects using electrophysiology.
• Participate in planned international secondments to partner academic and industry institutions.
• Engage in network-wide training programs, entrepreneurship workshops, and biosecurity safety courses.