The Software Engineering & Architecture (SEARCH) group at the University of Groningen is committed to advancing the state of the art in the field of software architecture. The group aims to achieve that by carrying out joint research projects with universities, research institutes, and industrial partners, thus combining academic know-how with industrial practice. The research topics of the SEARCH group include software architecture design and evaluation, architectural knowledge, software product lines, architectural patterns and pattern languages, architecture-centric evolution, and service-oriented architectures. For more information please check our website (http://search.cs.rug.nl/ and http://www.cs.rug.nl/~paris/) or email us (paris[ AT ]cs.rug.nl).

The SEARCH group is looking for excellent candidates that wish to apply for scholarships from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Prospective PhD students have substantial freedom in deciding upon their research. They may work on one of the group’s existing research projects or submit their own research proposal, in coordination with the group head.

PhD Scholarships in Software Engineering, University of Groningen, The Netherlands … read more »

The rapid spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria is one of the major problems of the coming century. This urges for an understanding of the mechanisms by which antibiotic resistance is transmitted. Conjugal DNA transport via type IV secretion systems is one of the main causes responsible for this spread, but little is known about the mechanism that governs conjugal DNA transport. In Gram-negative bacteria, the DNA has to cross four membranes, which makes it difficult to study DNA translocation by in vitro methods. However, such studies will be instrumental to reveal mechanistic features of this transport process.

Recently, an F factor conjugation-like DNA secretion system has been described in pathogenic Neisseria gonorrhoea. Remarkably, this system exports the DNA directly into the medium without the need for cell-to-cell contact. Since here only two membranes have to be crossed, this system is ideal to set up an in vitro DNA translocation system.

The aim is to reconstitute the DNA transport reaction both with inner membrane vesicles and proteoliposomes reconstituted with purified components. For this purpose, components of the DNA translocase will be identified and overexpressed. Interactions between subunits of the DNA translocase, located in the cytoplasm, inner membrane, periplasm and outer membrane will be analyzed using immunoprecipitation, co-purification, blue native electrophoresis, surface plasmon resonance
and further molecular biological, biochemical and biophysical techniques.

PhD Studentships DNA Transport in Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, University of Groningen, Netherlands … read more »