The applicant should either hold a PhD degree, or a degree that formally qualifies her/him to enter the PhD program of the Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School (http://set.kuleuven.be/phd/). An outspoken interest in microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology and analytical genetics, together with advanced command of both spoken and written English is mandatory.

Given the importance of protein quality control in cellular physiology and of proteotoxic stresses in the battle against bacterial pathogens, there is an urgent need for a more in depth understanding of the intracellullar functionality and management of heat shock proteins and protein aggregates. Using Escherichia coli as a highly tractable and relevant model system, this project will combine advanced genetics, live cell biology and evolutionary approaches to understand and shape the molecular causes and phenotypical consequences of protein quality control, thereby integrating insights from single-cell resolution to population-...