Positions are available in our team focused on the investigation of anaerobic protists (microbial eukaryotes) classified as Preaxostyla. Our major aims are to disclose the mitochondrial metabolism in Paratrimastix pyriformis and the mechanisms of Fe-S cluster synthesis in closely related oxymonads that lack mitochondria entirely. We also examine biotic interactions between these protists and their prokaryotic companions in the culture and natively in the termite hindgut. Furthermore, we test the possibilities of directed evolution via mitochondrial knock-outs in other selected anaerobes and develop tools to study the evolution of protein targeting into organelles.