Manar Khalifa
Aarhus C,Denmark
Summary
Early-career researcher with a PhD in Biomedical and Life Sciences and an international profile spanning Egypt, the UK, Belgium, and Denmark. I specialize in virus–host interactions and immune evasion mechanisms, with technical expertise in mammalian cell culture, genetic engineering, in vitro virology assays, and Python. I have full eligibility to work in Denmark (EU Family Residence Permit).
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Post doctoral Researcher
Aarhus University (Christian Kanstrup Holm Lab)
Aarhus
09.2024 - Current
Topic:
Elucidating the underlying mechanism of the influenza virus in exploiting ZNF598 to shuffle ribosomes, for promoting viral replication.
Tasks:
- Immune Mechanism: Investigated pro-viral immune mechanisms.
- Cell Engineering: CRISPR/Cas9, lentiviral transduction.
- Project Collaboartion: Established an international collaboration between Denmark and Belgium.
Visiting Researcher
VIB Centre of Structural Biology (Vorobieva lab)
Brussels
02.2024 - 09.2024
Topic:
- De novo protein design for vaccine development.
Tasks:
- Expressed and purified de novo-designed membrane proteins.
- computational protein design training to enhance protein engineering.
PhD Research Fellow
Lancaster University (Muhammad Munir lab)
Lancaster
10.2019 - 09.2023
Topic:
- Understanding Receptor-mediated Spill-over of Rabies Virus Across Different Mammalian Hosts.
Tasks:
- Developed & characterized replication-competent VSV-GFP vectors as a reporter system for monitoring viral replication kinetics.
- Optimized cell-based assays to quantify viral entry and replication.
- Receptor-binding assays to identify indispensable viral entry receptors.
Research Assistant
Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute
Cairo
05.2014 - 10.2019
Tasks:
- Designed and formulated inactivated FMDV mucosal vaccines and evaluated immunogenicity using ELISA and neutralization assays.
Quality Control Specialist
MEVAC Company for vaccines
Cairo
09.2012 - 05.2014
- Conducted QC assays for vaccines: (ELISA, and serum virus neutralization assays).
Education
PhD - Biomedical & Life Sciences
Lancaster University
UK09.2023
BSc - Veterinary Medicine
Cairo University
Egypt09.2012
MSc - Veterinary Virology
Cairo University
Egypt02.2017
Skills
- In Vitro Assay Development: Flow Cytometry, Confocal Microscopy, RT-qPCR
- Advanced Cellular Models: Mammalian Cell Culture (HEK293, A549,), Primary Human Airway Epithelial Cells (ALI cultures)
- Genome Engineering: CRISPR/Cas9, Lentiviral Transduction
- Molecular Biology: Plaque Assays, Molecular Cloning & Reverse Genetics
- Data Science & Bioinformatics: Statistical Data Analysis, Python Programming
- Protein Characterization: Western Blot, Protein Purification (IMAC, SEC), 2D-NMR
- Computational Tools: Generative AI for de novo protein design
Scientific Output
Selected Publications
1. ME Khalifa, & M Munir. (2024). Protocol for constructing and characterizing recombinant vectored vaccines for rabies virus. STAR protocols.
2. ME Khalifa, et al., (2023). Structural and Mechanistic Usage and Preference of Human, Dog, and Bat Receptors by Rabies Virus. bioRxiv.
3. ME Khalifa et al., (2021). Structural and Evolutionary Insights Into the Binding of Host Receptors by the Rabies Virus Glycoprotein. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
4. MA Rohaim, E Clayton, I Sahin, J Vilela, ME Khalifa et al., (2020). Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (AI-LAMP) for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2. Viruses.
5. ME Khalifa, et al,. (2017). Enhanced protection against FMDV in cattle after prime- boost vaccination based on mucosal and inactivated FMD vaccine. Veterinary Microbiology.
Fellowships
09/2024: Wallonia Brussels International postdoc Fellowships, Belgium. (W.B.I).
02/2024: Turing Scheme UK research stay, funded by Lancaster University, England.
10/2019: Newton Mosharfa full PhD scholarship, co-funded Egypt-UK.
Professional Skills
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Gained strong collaborative skills through working in multidisciplinary research teams.
- Adaptability and good communication skills: Working and transitioning from one cultural context to another (Egypt, England, Belgium and Denmark), I developed adaptability and effective communication.
LANGUAGES
English
Proficient
C2
Danish
Beginner
A1
Arabic
Proficient
C2
French
Elementary
A2
Certification
09/2025-12/2025: Intro to Python course, ReDI School, Aarhus, Denmark.
01/10/2024-22/10/2024: Introduction to research data management, VIB, Belgium.
11/09/2024-12/09/2024: Introduction to Computational Protein Design, VIB, Belgium.
04/09/2024-05/09/2024: Introduction to Protein Structure Analysis and Prediction,VIB, Belgium.
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Post doctoral Researcher
Aarhus University (Christian Kanstrup Holm Lab)
09.2024 - Current
Visiting Researcher
VIB Centre of Structural Biology (Vorobieva lab)
02.2024 - 09.2024
PhD Research Fellow
Lancaster University (Muhammad Munir lab)
10.2019 - 09.2023
Research Assistant
Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute
05.2014 - 10.2019
Quality Control Specialist
MEVAC Company for vaccines
09.2012 - 05.2014
PhD - Biomedical & Life Sciences
Lancaster University
BSc - Veterinary Medicine
Cairo University
MSc - Veterinary Virology
Cairo University