Postdoctoral Research Position in Biochemistry & Biotechnology at University of Liège, Belgium

Position and assignments

In the face of rising antibiotic resistance, targeting bacterial virulence factors offers a promising alternative to traditional antimicrobial therapies. Unlike conventional antibiotics that kill or inhibit bacterial growth—thus exerting strong selective pressure for resistance—anti-virulence strategies aim to disarm pathogens by neutralizing their ability to cause disease. Because these approaches do not directly affect bacterial viability, they impose less evolutionary pressure , potentially limiting the emergence of resistance and preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Targeting virulence factors thus represents a novel and sustainable path in the fight against drug-resistant bacterial infections. This project focuses on the development of nanomedicine candidates designed to neutralize key virulence factors from two WHO-designated high-priority pathogens. By disrupting bacterial pathogenesis rather than viability, these candidates offer a novel and sustainable approach to treating drug-resistant infections. This project is highly interdisciplinary integrating expertise in molecular biology, protein engineering, and computational antibody design to develop novel biologics with therapeutic potential. It will be carried out in close collaboration with clinicians who provide access to relevant biological samples, ensuring a strong translational dimension.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and construct libraries of VHH genes for phage display or yeast display .
• Carry out phage and yeast display to select VHHs specific of the targets
• Produce and purify VHHs in bacteria
• Utilize in silico antibody design tools to improve stability, specificity, and efficacy.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including microbiologists and clinicians.
• Present findings at internal meetings and contribute to publications.

Geographic mobility :

National

Telework

Occasionnal

Starting date

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