10 PhD Positions and 4 Post-Doc Positions

Reprotrain is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme. It is composed of 7 strong academic research groups and 2 pharmaceutical companies from 6 different European countries: France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, UK and Spain.

Application Deadline: September 15th 2012

Reprotrain, 'Reproductive Biology Early Research Training', aims to provide the key elements to train and update the new generation of researchers with the skills to solve increasingly prevalent problems relating to Male Reproductive Biology and Andrology.

The decline in sperm counts and concomitant increase in testicular cancer demands research in this field as an urgent priority. Spermatogenesis is the essential physiological process for male gamete production. It also provides an ideal paradigm model system to study cellular development and differentiation, both necessary for an understanding of dysfunction.

Our network integrates a research environment involving complementary frontier 'omic' approaches in male reproductive biology for the first time with the aim of identifying novel human fertility genes and the gene networks that are deregulated in the infertile and malignant testis.

We strive to deliver a high standard of multidisciplinary network-wide training to 10 Early Stage Researchers (PhD students) and 4 Experienced Researchers (Postdoctoral Fellows) who will perform studies in genetics and epigenetics, molecular male reproductive medicine, molecular and structural biology, biotechnology.

This learning environment will be implemented with hands-on training in cutting-edge technologies relevant to current molecular-genetic and medical research together with a Personnel Career Development Plan and complementary transferable skills. At least 3 months will be spent at another of the 7 leading European partner institutions forming the REPROTRAIN network.

Our 14 collaborative projects are grouped in six main areas:

Genome

• PhD Studentship - X chromosome-linked CNV burden and X-linked genes.
  Supervised by C. Krausz, Italy
• PhD Studentship - Y chromosome-linked CNVs and their biological consequences.
  Supervised by C. Krausz, Italy

Proteome

• PhD Studentship - Identification of the conserved core sperm nuclear proteome and identification of abnormalities in infertile patients.
  Supervised by R. Oliva, Spain

Epigenetics

• (Position Filled) PhD Studentship - Male genome reprogramming by histone variants and histone modifications during spermatogenesis in the mouse.
  Supervised by S. Rousseaux, France
• (Position Filled) PhD Studentship - Mature sperm nuclear epigenome characterisation and epigenetic potential.
  Supervised by S. Rousseaux, France
• PhD Studentship - Investigating the relationship between sperm chromatin domains and fertility.
  Supervised by D. Miller, UK

Transcriptome

• PhD Studentship - Mapping of gene networks involved in deregulated spermatogenesis by transcript profiling of semen from fertile and infertile men.
  Supervised by D. Miller, UK

Functional Studies

• Postdoc - Genomics and epigenomics of male infertility and identification of the function novel genes and proteins. (will open  March 2013 and close Oct-Nov 2013)
  Supervised by R. Oliva, Spain
• PhD Studentship - Meiotic and postmeiotic chromatin remodelling and its relevance for early embryonic development in mouse.
  Supervised by W. Baarends, The Netherlands
• PhD Studentship - Synthesis, its control and function of sperm proteins in Drosophila.
  Supervised by R. Renkawiz-Pohl, Germany

Clinical Research

• PhD Studentship - Characterisation of the relationships between human sperm DNA fragmentation, DNA adducts, protamines and proteomic profiles and male infertility through assisted conception outcomes.
  Supervised by S. Lewis, UK
• Postdoc - Development of DNA/RNA and protein/antibody based microarrays application.
  Supervised by T. Maes, Spain
• Postdoc - Implementing drug discovery program for epigenetic modulators and biomarker survey to identify response markers to therapy in testicular cancer patients. (will open  March 2013 and close Oct-Nov 2013)
  Supervised by T. Maes, Spain
• Postdoc - Clinical evaluation of a semen-based non-invasive transcriptomic diagnostic for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
  Co-supervised by T. Corbitt and D. Miller, UK
  

To apply, please refer to our website where detailed information about the eligibility criteria and the submission form are provided.