PhD – I nvestigate NK cells and bi-specific reagents in HIV cure – Netherlands

The Department of Immunology has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment that support basic and translational research. Erasmus MC is one of the largest academic medical centers in Europe providing an outstanding environment for research, education and patient care. Erasmus MC is located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, an exciting and thriving urban environment.

The PhD student will work in close collaboration with other work groups within Erasmus MC, as well as with other investigators of the Spiral project in the Netherlands and sub-Saharan Africa.

Job description

• Characterize phenotype and function of NK cells in individuals with different backgrounds (biological sex, ethnicity/genetic background, age).
• Using molecular clones, produce HIV subtypes which will be used in the in vitro assays. Most of the experiments will be performed in a BSL-3 facility.
• Develop strategies to eliminate the HIV latent reservoir in HIV-infected patients using bi-specific reagents (BiKEs). Evaluate efficiency of BiKEs in inducing NK cell mediated killing of cells infected with HIV-1 subtype A,B, C and D using in vitro models of HIV infection as well as primary cells.
• Investigate the combination of different latency reversing agents (LRAs) and BiKEs on NK cell-mediated killing of cells infected with HIV-1 subtype A,B, C and D.