PhD Position - Genetic and Epigenetic Control of Mouse Organ Development

A 4-year PhD position is available in the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel to join the Developmental Genetics Group. The project will be carried out under the supervision of Prof. Rolf Zeller and PD Dr. Aimée Zuniga.

 

Your position

How a single cell gives rise to a complex multicellular organism is one of the most interesting questions in biology. While most of the genes and signaling pathways controlling embryonic development have been identified, the current challenge is to understand how the genes organize themselves into networks that control the expansion, specification and differentiation of progenitor and stem cells during tissue and organ development. To tackle this challenge, our laboratory focuses on the developing mouse limb as a paradigm to study the molecular mechanisms regulating limb bud mesenchymal progenitors. In addition our recent research has also allowed us to gain insight into another fascinating aspect of biology, namely the functionally relevant molecular changes that underlie the evolutionary diversification of the vertebrate limb skeleton. The PhD project will take advantage of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in combination with epigenetic, chromatin, transcriptome and bioinformatic analyses in mouse embryos.

There are several possible projects within the framework of our ERC and SNF funded research that will be discussed with the applicants. Please note that this research requires using animals and embryos (mostly mice). Relevant publications on the topics include: Bénazet et al. 2009, Science 323, 1050-1053; Lopez-Rios et al. 2014, Nature 511, 46-51, Osterwalder et al. 2014, Dev Cell 31, 345–357; Laurent et al. 2017, Cell Reports 19, 1602-1613 - for a review see: Zuniga 2015, Development 142, 3810-3820.

 

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated student with an MSc in Molecular Developmental Biology or related field who is interested in groundbreaking research in the field of developmental gene regulation with direct relevance to evolutionary developmental biology. Previous knowledge of developmental and evolutionary biology and/or mouse genetics is an asset.

 

We offer you

The successful applicant will join an international research team in a biomedical research environment. You will do your PhD in an internationally leading research group, which allows you to do your PhD research in a highly collaborative and competitive research setting. All PhD students are members of the International PhD Program in Biomedicine.

 

Application / Contact

For more information see the Developmental Genetics website: http://www.devgenbasel.com

 

For further inquiries contact Rolf Zeller (rolf.zeller@unibas.ch) or Aimée Zuniga (aimee.zuniga@unibas.ch).

Applicants should send a motivation letter, CV with complete publication list, grades for bachelor and masters, summary of the master thesis and the names and addresses of three referees as one single PDF file to rolf.zeller@unibas.ch and aimee.zuniga@unibas.ch (cc: b.widmer@unibas.ch).

Please apply now – interviews will continue until the position is filled.