Career Center

We are inviting motivated Postdoctoral Scientists to join our group to study the physiology, and the molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in host-pathogen interactions in the tsetse fly-African trypanosome system. We study the role of the fly immune system and the influences of tsetse's endosymbiotic bacteria in the parasite infection process.  We also investigate parasite mediated mechanisms that modify tsetse's vector competence efficiency and influences the transmission success of trypanosomes to the next mammal in fly saliva. Finally, we are developing transmission blocking vaccines that target antigens present on the parasites in saliva that are deposited to the mammalian bite site.

We are looking for highly motivated scientists trained in a related field such as entomology, microbiology or immunology.  Our lab provides a collaborative environment and multi-disciplinary training for scientific and career development. Our lab has a track record of training postdoctoral researchers: our postdocs have international conference presentations and first authored original articles in high impact journals. We also have extensive international collaborations with researchers in Africa which provide a rich training environment for our researchers in global health.  Below are a few of our recent publications:

1. Aksoy E, Vigneron A, Bing X, Zhao X, O’Neill M, Wu YN, Bangs JD, et al. (2016) Mammalian African trypanosome VSG coat enhances tsetse’s vector competence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113: 6961-6966.

2. Bing X, Attardo GM, Vigneron A, Aksoy E, Scolari F, Malacrida A, Weiss BL, et al. (2017) Unravelling the relationship between the tsetse fly and its obligate symbiont Wigglesworthia: transcriptomic and metabolomic landscapes reveal highly integrated physiological networks. Proc Biol Sci 284.

3. Vigneron A, O’Neill MB, Weiss BL, Savage AF, Campbell OC, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Aksoy S. Single-cell RNA sequencing of Trypanosoma brucei from tsetse salivary glands unveils metacyclogenesis and identifies potential transmission blocking antigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Feb 4;117(5):2613-2621.

4. Michalkova V, Benoit JB, Weiss BL, Attardo GM, Aksoy S (2014) Vitamin B6 generated by obligate symbionts is critical for maintaining proline homeostasis and fecundity in tsetse flies. Appl Environ Microbiol 80: 5844-5853.

5. Weiss BL, Savage AF, Griffith BC, Wu Y, Aksoy S (2014) The Peritrophic Matrix Mediates Differential Infection Outcomes in the Tsetse Fly Gut following Challenge with Commensal, Pathogenic, and Parasitic Microbes. J Immunol 193: 773-782.

6. Vigneron A, Aksoy E, Weiss BL, Bing X, Zhao X, Awuoche EO, O’Neill MB, et al. (2018) A fine-tuned vector-parasite dialogue in tsetse’s cardia determines peritrophic matrix integrity and trypanosome transmission success. PLoS Pathog 14: e1006972.

7. Weiss BL, Wang J, Maltz MA, Wu Y, Aksoy S. Trypanosome infection establishment in the tsetse fly gut is influenced by microbiome-regulated host immune barriers. PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(4):e1003318.

Interested candidates should submit a CV, personal statement and contact information for three references.  Interested candidates can obtain additional information about our work on our website:  https://ysph.yale.edu/profile/serap_aksoy/.