PhD Candidate in Structural Virology and Antiviral Development

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our multidisciplinary team as part of the recently funded ERC Starting Grant project PicAAA. This project aims to elucidate the role of virally encoded AAA+ ATPases in the replication cycles of positive-strand RNA viruses, with a particular emphasis on Noroviruses.

Your job
Noroviruses are the leading cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. Despite their substantial global health impact, our molecular understanding of Norovirus replication remains incomplete. Critically, no approved direct-acting antivirals are currently available to protect high-risk populations from severe or life-threatening disease.

As a key step toward addressing this gap, our team recently published a preprint presenting the first high-resolution structure of the Norovirus NS3 protein, revealing a putative transmembrane RNA translocase:

🧬 Haas et al. (2025) – Integrative Structure of Norovirus NS3 Suggests a Role in RNA Transport
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.17.659504v1

Building on this foundation, the PhD candidate will use cutting-edge structural biology approaches—primarily single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM)—to investigate the mechanistic role of NS3 in viral replication and assembly. The project will also explore how NS3 activity may be disrupted by small-molecule inhibitors. Additionally, the candidate will have opportunities to apply in situ cryo-electron tomography to visualize NS3 function and replication dynamics within infected cells.

Key Responsibilities

• Express and purify recombinant Norovirus NS3 complexes for biochemical and structural studies
• Design and carry out single-particle cryo-EM experiments to visualize NS3 complexes at high resolution
• Support antiviral compound screening and contribute to the structural characterization of NS3–inhibitor complexes
• Process and analyze cryo-EM data using established computational pipelines and structural modeling tools
• Apply, or develop expertise in, in situ cryo-electron tomography to investigate NS3 function and viral replication within infected cells
• Collaborate closely with molecular virologists, structural biologists, and computational scientists within an interdisciplinary team
• Supervise and mentor Bachelor’s and Master’s students involved in related research projects
• Communicate findings through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international scientific conferences

• A fully funded, four-year PhD position within an internationally recognized virology and structural biology laboratory.
• a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 2.901 and €3.707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Virology Section of the Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine studies the interaction between viruses and their hosts at the molecular/cell biological level as well as at the level of the organism. Ultimately, we strive to translate obtained knowledge into the development of novel vaccines, antiviral therapies, and diagnostic tools.

For more information about the Virology Section and our research directions:https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/faculty-of-veterinary-medicine/veterinary-research/research-programmes/infection-immunity/virology

You will be supervised and coached in your development by dr. Daniel Hurdiss. You will join our large team of about 30 researchers that focuses on the molecular aspects of infection of corona-, influenza- and picornaviruses. We offer a challenging position in a dynamic and professional environment with a lot of opportunities to develop yourself and your talents. You will join the PhD program at the Graduate School of Life Sciences https://www.uu.nl/en/education/graduate-school-of-life-sciences .