Student research projects
Within the Leiden Malaria Group, there are possibilities for students to do a research traineeship (study: Medicine, Biological Sciences, (Medical) Biology, HBO/Polytechnic). Actual information about traineeship possibilities within the research projects can be found on the Leiden University Blackboard.
For more information, please contact Dr. Blandine M.D. Franke-Fayard or Dr. Chris J. Janse.
Former and current student research projects (2007 - 2022)
Kristel Noordzij, HLO/Polytechnic Breda
Period: September 2021 - July 2022
Place: LUMC
Title: The generation of chimeric rodent malaria parasites expressing human malaria antigens (falciparum and vivax)
Nitya Bhardwaj, Master Biomedical Sciences, Leiden University
Period: December 2021 – July 2022
Place: LUMC
Title: Generating Plasmodium falciparum transgenic parasite lines to explore parasite protein export in human hepatocytes
Dennis Strobbe, Master Life Science and Technology, Leiden University
Period: February 2020 – June 2021
Place: LUMC
Title: Development of novel P. Falciparum transgenic reporter lines with wider field applications
Sherwin Pak Niyyat, HLO/Polytechnic Leiden
Period: September 2020 - June 2021
Place: LUMC
Title: Generation of fluorescent and epitope tagged Plasmodium berghei parasites to examine the effect on parasite protein trafficking
Eva Chris, Leiden University Medical Center, Biomedical Sciences, master internship
Period: September 2020 - February 2021
Place: LUMC
Title: Improvement of the crisp-cas9 system to genetically modify the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum
Shachi Mujumdar, Leiden University, Master internship; From Cells to Organism
Period: January 2020 – July 2020
Place: LUMC
Title: Examining (novel) methods to genetically modify the Plasmodium falciparum parasite to improve malaria vaccines
Nadine van den Ende, Leiden University Medical Center, Biomedical Sciences, master internship
Period: January 2020 – July 2020
Place: LUMC
Title: Creation and testing of novel self-adjuvanted Late Arresting Genetically Attenuated malaria Parasite (SALA-GAP) vaccine candidates
Maaike de Jong, Leiden University, BW, master
Period: November 2018 - June 2019
Place: LUMC
Title: Creation and testing enhanced Late-Arresting Genetically Attenuated malaria Parasite (LA-GAP) vaccine candidates
Nicole Molendijk, HLO/Polytechnic Breda
Period: September 2018 - May 2019
Place: LUMC
Title: characterization of proteins expressed during Plasmodium liver stage development.
Marc Blanch Asensio, Leiden University, BW, master
Period: November 2017 – June 2018
Place: LUMC
Title: Genetic modification of live-attenuated Plasmodium vaccine to increase protective efficacy
Judith Guitart Matas, Leiden University, BW, master
Period: December 2017 – June 2018
Place: LUMC
Title: Identification of Plasmodium berghei malaria parasite exported proteins during liver-stage infection
Simon de Heus, Hogeschool Utrecht, Life Sciences
Period: February 2017 - August 2017
Place: LUMC
Title: Analysis of members of the fam-a multigene family in a conserved locus on chromosome 13 of the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei
Edwin Scholl, UvA Amsterdam, Biomedische Wetenschappen, master
Period: September 2016 - Mei 2017
Place: LUMC
Title: The generation and testing of enhanced genetically attenuated parasite (GAP) vaccines against malaria
Pika Gomboc, VU Amsterdam, Biomedische Wetenschappen, master
Period: February 2016 - August 2016
Place: LUMC
Title: Characterization of liver stage Plasmodium genes as potential GAP vaccine candidates & investigation of optimal route of administration
Period: October 2015 - July 2016
Place: LUMC
Title: The use of genetically attenuated parasites to examine the effect of skin residing sporozoites on malaria vaccine efficacy
Mayuri Nalawade, Master National University of Ireland
Period: April 2015 - September 2015
Place: LUMC
Title: Generation and analysis of transgenic P. yoelii malaria parasites to study skin immunology
Brian Kruisinga, HLO/Polytechnic Rotterdam
Period: November 2014 - June 2015
Place: LUMC
Title: Development of a second generation malaria vaccine based on genetically attenuated parasites.
Lisa Welt, HLO/Polytechnic Leiden
Period: September 2014 - June 2015
Place: LUMC
Title: Generation of transgenic P. yoelii malaria parasites to optimize the effectiveness of the vaccination protocol
Rick Hennevelt, HLO/Polytechnic Leiden
Period: September 2014 - June 2015
Place: LUMC
Title: Improving P. falciparum transfection and creating the next generation genetically attenuated P. falciparum parasites for vaccination
Hester Koppejan, Leiden University, BW, master
Period: April 2014 - November 2014
Place: LUMC
Title: Role of skin immunology in the study of protective immunity in different regimes of malaria vaccine administration regimes
Niels de Wilde, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2014 - August 2014
Place: LUMC
Title: Improving gene deletion/insertion tranfection methodologies in Plasmodium falciparum
Marta Reguera Gómez, Universidad de Alcalá (Spanje), bachelor
Period: January 2014 - June 2014
Place: LUMC
Title: Generation and analysis of transgenic malaria parasite lines to indentify antigens as suitable targets for a vaccine
Tim Christen, Leiden University, BW, master
Period: April 2013 - November 2013
Place: LUMC
Title: Developing a method to induce knock-out, double knock-out and gene insertion transfections in P. falciparum
Yvette Gladdines, HLO/Avans Hogeschool Breda
Period: December 2012 - June 2013
Place: LUMC
Title: Protein export in hepatocytes in the liver stage of malaria parasites
Fiona van Pul, HLO/Polytechnic Leiden
Period: September 2012 - May 2013
Place: LUMC
Title: Making successful transfection in human malaria parasites and examination in primary human liver cells using several constructs for the development of a liver-stage vaccine
Tracy-Jane Eisden, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2012 - August 2012
Place: LUMC
Title: Generation of transgenic malaria parasites to serve as a foreign antigen expression system for immunisation
Paula Schreurs, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2012 - August 2012
Place: LUMC
Title: Optimization of the expression PfEMP1 domains on the outer surface membrane of malaria infected erythrocytes
Janneke Eken, HLO/Polytechnic Leiden
Period: January - September 2012
Place: LUMC
Title: Targeting malaria proteins exported on the surface membrane of infected erythrocytes
Pascale Bouchier, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2011 - July 2011
Place: LUMC
Title: The generation and characterization of genetically modified ‘vehicle’ malaria parasites
Hedayat Amini, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2011 - July 2011
Place: LUMC
Title: The next generation of genetically modified malaria parasites that may serve as potential live-vaccine
Adik Adamian, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2010 - August 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Towards falciparumized P. berghei binding human ICAM-1
Jasper Misset, Leiden University, Biology, bachelor
Period: January 2010 – August 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Using malaria parasites as vehicles to deliver heterelogous antigens
Joana Pissarra, University of Lisbon (Portugal), master
Period: December 2009 – July 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Development of new tools to target the liver stage of malaria parasites
Avinash Dinmohamed, VU, BW, master (Master’s Literature Review)
Period: February 2010 - April 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: The 6-cys gene family: The ‘Vaccine Family’ of Plasmodium Proteins
Stefan Lelieveld, HLO/Polytechnic Leiden
Period: November 2009 – May 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Bioinformatic characterization of the Pb-fam multigene family in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei
Ralf Boland, Leiden University, Biology, bachelor
Period: September 2009 – April 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Expression of PfEMP1 domains on the surface of malaria infected red blood cells
Mariela Fuentes Caraballo, University of Puerto Rico (USA), master
Period: May 2009 – July 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Characterization and understanding of the biological role of the Multidrug Resistance Associated Protein of malaria parasites
Maria Gonzalez Pons, University of Puerto Rico (USA), PhD student
Period: May 2009 – July 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Characterization and understanding of the biological role of the Multidrug Resistance Associated Protein of malaria parasites
Reindert Emmens, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2009 – August 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Targeting of malaria parasite proteins to the surface of infected red blood cells
Avinash Dinmohamed, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2009 – August 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Identification of factors important for protein trafficking in the malaria parasite
Carlijn van der Sluijs, VU, BW, bachelor
Period: November 2008 – April 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Targeting of malaria parasite proteins to the surface of infected red blood cells
Jolle Mijs Vegter, VU, BW, master
Period: October 2008 – May 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Inducible knockout of genes in malaria parasites: targeting essential genes
Marc-Manuel Hahn, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2008 – September 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: Role of the malaria parasite protein HEP17 in development in the liver
Maarten Eldering, VU, BW, master
Period: February 2008 – September 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: Characterization of an inducible transfection system in malaria parasites
Onny Klop, HLO/Polytechnic Breda
Period: February 2008 – October 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: The generation of new red transgenic reporter lines of a rodent malaria parasite for in vivo visualization of host-pathogens interactions
David Janson, Leiden University, BW, master
Period: September 2007 – June 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: In vivo visualization of rodent malaria parasites: generation and exploitation of a humanized model
Aycha Bleeker, HLO/Polytechnic Leeuwarden
Period: September 2007 –March 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: The generation of transgenic malaria parasites expressing reporter proteins for drug test screening and in vivo visualization