
Jobs in the Vector Biology Research Unit
Student assistants for insectary and cell culture work on weekends and public holidays
Tasks in the Insectary
Monitoring and breeding of our mosquito colonies requires daily care at our two insectaries. At weekends and on public holidays, we mainly rely on student assistants for support.
This work includes:
- ensuring fresh food for mosquito larvae and adults
- splitting larval stages to optimal density
- assisted guidance of the mosquito cycle from egg-laying to adult mosquito
- general insectary cleaning and maintenance of order
Students will receive a two weeks' training in the insectary and become proficient in mosquito rearing and maintenance.
Tasks in the cell cultures
Student assistants may also work on our cell culture platforms.
In our Plasmodium cell culture, we culture the erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite. After four weeks of training, student assistants will be proficient in exchanging culture medium at biosafety level 2 (BSL2).
In our liver cell culture, adherent liver cells require splitting and seeding at an optimal density, and training in this process will be provided over three to four weeks.
Requirements for application
If you are interested in becoming skilled at Anopheles- and Plasmodium-related techniques and work regularly as a student assistant on weekends and public holidays, please contact the Lab Manager.
You are a suitable candidate if you are
- a student in the early stages of a Bachelor's degree in Biology or a related subject
- enrolled at a German university
- living in Berlin or the surrounding area.
The nature of the job requires a high sense of responsibility, as well as moderate to high physical activity and mobility in order to handle mosquito culture containers.
Bachelor and Master Projects
If you are interested in doing a Bachelor or Master project in the Vector Biology Research Unit, please contact Elena Levashina.
PhD positions
Please check out the regular calls of the International Max Planck Research School for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (IMPRS-IDI).
https://www.imprs-idi.org/home/
Postdoc Positions
If you are interested in doing a Postdoc in the Vector Biology Research Unit, please contact Elena Levashina.