Prof E Conti, Dr P Szoevenyi
Applications accepted all year round
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Job Description: One of the key goals of this project is to develop a new methodology for capturing and sequencing complex genomic regions in a targeted way and study the evolution of such complex regions. Specifically, we will focus on the heterostyly supergene and its evolution in the genus Primula (primroses). This position involves molecular laboratory work to develop and optimize capturing and sequencing protocols; bioinformatics work to analyse and interpret next-generation sequencing data; and evolutionary and functional genetic analyses of the S-locus (heterostyly supergene) in primroses. Building on published work by Elena Conti and Michael Lenhard, the project uses state-of-the-art third generation sequencing technology to generate long sequencing reads, coupled with custom made bioinformatics pipelines to assemble and annotate these sequences. Recent development by Oxford Nanopore technology in combination with the methodology we will develop in this project may be used for future in-field screening applications. This project is aimed at addressing one of the fundamental questions of evolutionary biology, namely, the detailed genetic makeup of the S-locus in primroses, via developing a new cutting-edge method for third-generation sequencing. This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to combine the experience of working for a market-leading private company that provides solutions for life sciences (BaseClear VB) with an academic research environment at the University of Zurich, offering world-leading expertise in evolutionary biology research and cutting-edge improvements of technological advances in genomic sequencing.
The selected candidate will pursue the doctoral degree through the University of Zurich (Switzerland), and will be based 18 months at said University (including a stay of 6 months at the University of Potsdam, Germany) and 18 months at BaseClear BV, in the Netherlands, which will operate the working contract for the entire duration of the fellowship (36 months).
Application deadline: February 15, 2017 (or until position is filled)
How to apply: 1) Curriculum Vitae with list of publications (if applicable); 2) transcripts of University courses with grades and grading scale applied at the respective degree-granting University; 3) motivation letter explaining why the applicant wants to pursue a Ph.D. and indicating preferred starting date; maximum length: one page; 4) two names of referees or letters of recommendation sent DIRECTLY to [Email Address Removed] by each referee. Send the application documents listed above as ONE PDF DOCUMENT to: [Email Address Removed] using “PlantHUB application” in the subject line.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a M.Sc. degree with knowledge in one (or more) of the following subject areas: molecular biology/genetics, evolutionary biology, genomics, bioinformatics. Some experience in generating, handling, and analysing next-generation sequencing data including programming skills in R/Python/Perl is desirable.
Language requirement: Proficient oral and written English skills
Starting date: May-August, 2017 (negotiable)
Funding Notes
PlantHUB is funded by the H2020 PROGRAMME Marie Curie Actions – People, Initial Training Networks (ITN). PlantHUB offers challenging and exciting research positions in an international, multidisciplinary research network. The employers are leading European universities and leading global companies. All PlantHUB ESRs will follow a doctoral programme that is ground-breaking. The doctoral training is placed into an entrepreneurial environment of leading public and private organisations. It combines practical hands-on R&D and technology transfer in plant breeding and production with a PhD Program that concentrates on Responsible Research and Innovation training and practice.
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