PhD Vacancy in Systems Biology

Job Description

The growth of eukaryotic cells is carefully monitored by specific signaling pathways that observe both the outside and inside environments. When cells divide, these pathways need to coordinate with the cell division cycle to maintain balance in the cell, and if this coordination is disrupted, it can cause a variety of diseases. Although we know that these signaling pathways have a strong effect on the cell cycle, we still don't completely understand how they regulate it. This research project aims to address this question in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by perturbing protein abundances in growth-regulatory pathways (TORC1, TORC2, PKA and AMPK), using single-cell time lapse microscopy to observe cell cycle progression, and applying statistical modeling to analyze the data. The researchers will identify pathway components that have the most significant effect on the cell cycle, which will guide subsequent experiments to discover cell cycle regulators that are impacted by these components. By exploring this mostly unexplored area of growth signaling, the project aims to improve our understanding of fundamental cellular processes that are closely related to human health.

Qualifications

• a Master’s degree and a background in molecular biology, systems biology or biochemistry, and ideally some undergraduate research experience. Familiarity with yeast genetic engineering and fluorescence microscopy is a plus
• you have good knowledge of a high-level programming language (e.g. Matlab, Python or R)
• you have a good command of English (oral and written) and possess excellent communication and collaboration skills.

PhD Benefits

We offer you, following the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• a salary of € 2,541 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,247 gross per month (based on fulltime employment) in the fourth and final year
• a full-time position (1.0 FTE)
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees.

The successful candidate will first be offered a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected. A PhD training program is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

PhD Application

Are you interested in applying? If so, please submit the following documents:

• CV
• information about grades and other measures of success
• two letters of recommendation (these can also be emailed directly)
• statement of prior experience/expertise could be connected to the project.

Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be taken into consideration.

You may apply for this position until 16 April 11:59pm / before 17 April 2023 Dutch local time (CET) By means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

For further information related to this PhD Vacancy, you may contact Dr. Andreas Milias-Argeitis, a.milias.argeitis@rug.nl (Please do not use the e-mail address for applications). For further information related to the vacancy, it is strongly advice to visit this PhD Scholarships.