Positions
PhD position: Interplay between metabolism and physical activity in the teleost medaka
Two PhD positions are available, one in the lab of Dr. Felix Loosli at the Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP) and the other in the lab of PD Dr. Claudia Muhle-Goll, at the Institute of Biological Interfaces 4 (IBG4) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
The main interest of the Loosli lab is the genetic analysis of complex traits using medaka fish as a vertebrate model. The Muhle-Goll Laboratory applies NMR spectroscopy to biological and medical research and has extensive experience in metabolomic analysis. More information and relevant publications can be found on https://bip.ibcs.kit.edu/87.php and https://www.ioc.kit.edu/luy/21_Claudia_Muhle.php, respectively.
The PhD positions are funded as a joint DFG project. Both PhD students are expected to work closely together. The project will analyse complex traits and their potential interdependence. One subtopic will mainly rely on quantitative phenotyping of voluntary swim activity and RNA seq analysis, whereas the other will primarily focus one the NMR metabolome fingerprinting. RNA seq analysis of various tissues will be performed to search for metabolic variance and behavioural phenotyping using open field and swim tunnel testing. Extracts of the respective tissues will be analysed for characteristic differences between the various fish lines and analysed with statistical methods. These data sets will then be analysed for potential correlations as evidence for trait interdependence.
Your profile:
high motivation and the ability to work independently after a brief period of training as well as fluency in English. Basic knowledge of German would be an asset. They will become members of the KIT grad school bif-igs (https://www.bif-igs.kit.edu/).
We expect:
For the RNA seq/behavioural studies -
M.Sc. or equivalent in biology or comparable studies.
Experience in molecular biology, RNA seq analysis and statistical evaluation
Preferably experience with teleost laboratory models
Interest in genetics and behavioural studies
Interest in various technological applications (video recording, image analysis)
For the NMR analysis -
M.Sc. or equivalent in chemistry/biology or comparable studies with special interest in analytical techniques.
Knowledge in 1D NMR spectroscopy and the interpretation of NMR spectra would be an asset, as would a basic knowledge of statistics.
The positions are funded for 3 years with remuneration according to the Collective Agreement for the Public Service Sector. Please send your applications to Dr. Felix Loosli (felix loosli ∂does-not-exist.kit edu) or Dr. Claudia Muhle-Goll (claudia muhle-goll ∂does-not-exist.kit edu). The application should comprise a letter of motivation, a brief summary of the Master’s work, a CV with all relevant transcripts and certificates including 2 letters of reference.
If you are looking for a Bachelor & Master, PhD and Post-doc project and you are interested in our research, please feel free to contact us for potential projects and vacancies. Students from chemistry, biochemistry, physics or mathematics are especially encouraged to apply.
Your thesis can be on the following topics:
- Anisotropic parameters for structure determination
- Using stretched polymer gels or liquid crystalline phases as alignment medium
- Further development of these techniques
- Develop new pulses with Optical Control Theory and GRAPE algorithm
- First simulations, later implementation on the spectrometer
- Deriving of new pulse sequence
- Implementation on the spectrometer
- Demonstration of efficiency and benefits with experiments on target molecules
- Development and application of accelerated methods for structure and dynamics determination based on anisotropic NMR parameters.
- Investigation of cell extracts and/or media to determine all active metabolites of the studied systems
- Understanding of function, interactions and dynamics of proteins
- Biological assays
- (Bullet)-DNP