SARS-CoV-2 Mutational Analysis Internship

About Internship

Assistant Professor from Galgotias University, Uttar Pradesh, India, is accepting candidates interested in the field of Biotechnology, in the research area of Molecular biology.

This research position focuses on the genetic mechanisms driving viral adaptation, specifically targeting the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The RBD is the critical region that dictates how effectively the virus binds to human cellular receptors (like ACE2) and evades neutralizing antibodies. The researcher will actively engineer and characterize specific mutations within this domain to evaluate their structural and functional impacts. This role bridges classic wet-lab recombinant DNA technology with modern bioinformatics, offering foundational training for careers in vaccinology, therapeutic design, and evolutionary virology. Roles & Responsibilities: 1. Design site-directed mutagenesis primers and execute precise Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) to introduce targeted mutations into the RBD sequence. 2. Perform restriction digestion, ligation, and molecular cloning to insert mutant genes into expression vectors, followed by transformation into host strains. 3. Isolate high-purity plasmid DNA via miniprep protocols and verify successful genetic insertion using agarose gel electrophoresis and restriction mapping. 4. Prepare and analyze samples for sequence validation (Sanger sequencing) to confirm the exact mutational profile. 5. Utilize computational tools for sequence alignment, mutational mapping, and structural visualization of the mutant RBD complexes. 6. Maintain rigorous, publication-grade laboratory documentation, analyze complex experimental datasets, and maintain biosafety protocols.