Postdoc in antiinfective pharmacology (intracellular infection by S. aureus)

The projects will be conducted  at the Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), a multidisciplinary institute dedicated to drug research across all stages of their development. Located on UCLouvain’s Brussels campus (health sciences sector), the institute offers a dynamic and international environment with easy access to public transportation. Working languages include French and English. Two teams will be involved 

• Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials (Prof. Rita Vanbever, for the subproject dedicated to nanomedecines)

• Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology (Prof. Françoise Van Bambeke, for both sub-projects)

The pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is  capable of evading immune defenses by adopting an intracellular lifestyle within both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. These intracellular reservoirs contribute to persistent infections in tissues such as skin, soft tissue, or bone, where conventional antibiotics often fail due to poor cellular penetration or reduced bacterial responsiveness.

Two directions will be investigated (possibly two positions), 

1) developing lipid-based nanomedicines for the intracellular delivery of antisense oligonucleotides targeting essential S. aureus genes.

2)  investigating, at the single-cell level, how bacteria respond to antibiotic stress using in vitro models of intracellular infection.

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Strong CV, including publications in Q1, top-quality journals
• Proven expertise in microbiology, molecular biology + formulation (subproject 1) or flow cytometry (subproject 2)
• Strong ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment
• Willingness to supervise undergraduate students and contribute to the academic community

By combining molecular and cellular biology, microbiology, and pharmacology/pharmaceutical approaches, this multidisciplinary project offers a rich training environment for the postdoctoral fellow.