The Subha Lab at IBAB (https://www.ibab.ac.in/people/distinguished-professors-and-chairs/prof-subha-srinivasan/) has a post-doctoral position open to study the role of the homologs of TNF-TNFR super family in Plasmodium resistance, which may be evolutionarily conserved in mosquito vectors since before the invertebrate-vertebrate split. The work will involve but not limited to:
- Tracing the evolutionary origin of TNF-TNFR super family in innate immunity
- Recombinant expression of selected genes from malaria vectors; co-crystallization of the respective receptor-ligand complexes; determination of the crystal structure oft he complex
- Expression profiling of pathway genes before and after blood feeding among infected and uninfected insects with Plasmodium.
- knock-in or knock-out of selected genes to demonstrate direct link between the genes Plasmodium sensitivity; Inhibition of this pathway using RNAi and/or small molecule inhibitors to demonstrate plasmodium sensitivity to selected genes;cellular localization studies of the respective ligands and cognate receptors
- Limited cage experiments demonstrating the utility of selected plasmodium resistant gene using gene drive technology You are someone who is well-versed with:
- Bioinformatics tools and concepts
- Molecular biology techniques
- Good team player
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Fast and independent learner and interested in teaching
- Preferably write codes in python or other languages
- Familier with R and knows statistical methods as applicable to data interpretation in biology