Internship projects
Here you can find the project details of the 2025 International Summer Internships at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology. For questions about the internships, please have a look at our application guide and FAQ. If you have questions regarding the project description and the scientific aspects of the internships, please contact us.
Zychlinsky Lab (Cellular Microbiology)
Welcome to our lab: the Department of Cellular Microbiology at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology. Our research focuses on immune cells called neutrophils, and their anti-microbial structures known as Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). NETs are web-like extrusions that are designed to intercept and neutralize microbial invaders. However, it turns out that microbes are able to counteract NETs and evade destruction. In this project, we have identified uncharacterized bacterial genes that mediate this host-pathogen interaction.
As an intern, your primary objective will be to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this recently discovered system. Your role will entail the use of primary immune cells with pathogenic human bacteria, as well as a diverse array of advanced molecular techniques.
Skills required:
- Experience working with cell culture
- Good understanding of molecular techniques
Cronan Lab (In vivo cell biology of infection)
In our group, the In Vivo Cell Biology of Infection group, we study the cellular responses critical to mycobacterial infection, a group of pathogens that includes tuberculosis, the most deadly single infectious agent. We model mycobacterial infection using zebrafish together with Mycobacterium marinum, a close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that effectively mimics many aspects of tuberculosis infection. We use this model to understand how mycobacteria reprogram the host immune responses to drive the pathogenic outcomes of infection. In particular, our work focuses on the granuloma, the canonical feature of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection that shapes host immune responses and treatment outcomes for this bacterium.
As an intern, your project will follow up on previous studies in the lab that have characterized the genes and cell populations that contribute to mycobacterial infection. You will use the zebrafish-M. marinum model along with cell culture models to mechanistically understand the genes and cell populations that drive mycobacterial infection with a particular focus on granuloma formation.
Skills ideally required:
- Experience with molecular biology
- Microscopy and histology techniques
- Zebrafish experience is beneficial but not expected
Reber Lab (Quantitative Biology)
In our group, the Quantitative Infection Biology group, we study the biochemical and biophysical principles that underlie the self-organization, size and shape of subcellular organelles and cells. In the malaria parasite Plasmodium, the structural integrity and dynamic behavior of microtubules are thought to be essential for shaping cell form and enabling diverse cellular functions. However, we lack a direct link between the molecular components of microtubule stability and the overall physical properties of the parasite during different stages of its life cycle.
As an intern, your project will follow up on previous studies in the lab that have characterized molecular components of microtubule stability in Plasmodium. You will use in vitro reconstitution assays of microtubules and advanced imaging of different Plasmodium stages to understand how different microtubule architectures specify parasite morphology and mechanics.
Skills ideally required:
- Experience with biochemistry and molecular biology
- (Advanced) microscopy techniques and image analysis
- Experience with Plasmodium blood cell culture is beneficial but not expected
