Scholarship: Fully-funded
Degree: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D
Nationality: International Students
Location: USA
Application deadlines: Open
Scholarship Description:
Our research integrates biophysical imaging, virology, structural biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational biology to study viral pathogens such as HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and HSV. We aim to uncover how viruses interact with host cells and inform the development of effective antiviral strategies. We are affiliated with the Duke University Center for HIV Structural Biology, supported by NIH (R01, MIRA R35, R56), Gilead, amfAR, and the UT STARs program. Our recent publications include articles in Nature, Cell Host & Microbe, Immunity, Nature Communications, Cell Chemical Biology, and mBio.
Current lab projects focus on: 1) Mechanisms of viral surface protein-mediated membrane fusion and cell entry, 2) Antibody recognition and immune evasion, 3) Design and mechanism of antiviral inhibitors, 4) Development of new single-molecule imaging technologies, and 5) Role of host factors in viral entry.
Available Subjects:
- Virology/computational biology
Eligibility criteria:
- Ph.D. or equivalent in molecular virology, computational biology, or a related field
- Preferred Backgrounds:
- Molecular Virology: Lentiviruses, coronaviruses, or other human viruses; molecular cloning, qPCR, western blot, live cell imaging, luciferase assays, FACS, Co-IP, etc.
- Computational Biology: Protein structure modeling, binding affinity prediction, AlphaFold, RFdiffusion, Rosetta, or similar platforms.
- Relevant Backgrounds:
- Structural Biology: Protein expression/purification, crystallography, cryoEM, binding kinetics.
- Biophysical Imaging: Single-molecule FRET, super-resolution, single-particle tracking, TIRF, confocal microscopy. Programming skills are highly valued.
- Strong publication record and excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Collaborative, self-motivated, curiosity-driven, and eager to learn
Application Procedure:
Please email a cover letter explaining relevant work experience and potential starting date, a CV, and the names and contact information for three references to Dr. Maolin Lu,
email: [email protected]
