PhD /PostDoc positions available
Exploration of physiological functions of
the cell fusogen Fusexin1 in Archaea
In a collaborative project between the Albers lab (Freiburg) and the
Podbilewicz lab (Technion) starting in January 2026.
We aim to elucidate the role and function of fusexins in Haloarchaea through the
application of genetics, cell biology, and structural methods. Experience in one of the
named fields is important; prior experience working with Haloarchaea would be beneficial,
but is not mandatory.
If you are interested, please contact Sonja Albers (sonja.albers@biologie.uni-freiburg.de)
or Benjamin Podbilewicz (podbilew@technion.ac.il).
Relevant references
Moi, D., Nishio, S., Li, X., Valansi, C., Langleib, M., Brukman, N. G., Flyak, K., Dessimoz, C., de Sanctis, D., Tunyasuvunakool, K., Jumper, J., Graña, M.*, Romero, H.*, Aguilar, P*. S., Jovine, L*., and Podbilewicz, B.* (2022). Discovery of archaeal fusexins homologous to eukaryotic HAP2/GCS1 gamete fusion proteins. Nat. Commun. 13, 3880. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31564-1
Sivabalasarma, S., Wetzel, H., Nußbaum, P., van der Does, C., Beeby, M., and Albers, S.-V. (2021). Analysis of Cell–Cell Bridges in Haloferax volcanii Using Electron Cryo-Tomography Reveal a Continuous Cytoplasm and S-Layer. Front. Microbiol. 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.612239.
Valansi, C., Moi, D., Leikina E., Matveev E, Graña M., Chernomordik L. V, Romero H., Aguilar P. S.* and Podbilewicz, B.* (2017). Arabidopsis HAP2/GCS1 is a gamete fusion protein homologous to somatic and viral fusogens. J. Cell Biol. 216, 571–581. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201610093.
Wagner, A., Whitaker, R.J., et al., and Albers, S.-V. (2017). Mechanisms of gene flow in archaea. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 15, 492–501. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro.2017.41.
