Doctoral Student in Biology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

One of the major challenges for plant productivity is balancing survival under stress conditions with the investment of resources into growth and reproduction. The role of plant mitochondria and chloroplasts has been recognised as pivotal not only in growth permissive conditions, but also under a variety of stresses, ranging from water to pathogen attack. Furthermore, the energy organelles are considered to be more than just targets of stress-induced damage, but are thought to be part of the first signalling steps that launch an efficient stress response. Plant mitochondria and chloroplasts are able to signal their functional status to the nucleus, a process termed retrograde signalling. These retrograde signals alter nuclear gene expression of organellar proteins and importantly, also of many other proteins functioning in hormone metabolism and transport. Together these signalling events can enhance plant survival. However, the nature of the signals and how they are transmitted is only beginning to be understood.  Recently several breakthroughs were made by the identification of transcription factors that can activate or repress transcriptional responses to mitochondrial or chloroplast dysfunction.

In the present project we will focus on identifying additional components that lead to activation of mitochondrial retrograde signalling in plants.

(1) A number of small signalling molecules have been identified that may play a role in transmitting signals from the mitochondria to the nucleus. A range of techniques and approaches will be used to find out which ones are most important, and how they contribute to signal transduction.

(2) A recently identified master transcription factor has been identified, but how it is activated is not clearly understood. Using a range of genetic approaches, the project will aim to identify novel components of this Cascade.

Required qualifications

• Master in Molecular Biology or Agricultural Science, with workexperience in molecular biology, genetics and plant physiology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English, Swedish language skills are of merit.
• Highly motivated with strong ability to work independently as well as to collaborate within a research group.
• Practical experience in working with Arabidopsis thaliana mutants is of merit.
• Practical experience in molecular and biochemical techniques such as genotyping, sequencing, bioinformatics, PCR, RNA work, cloning, protein purification, western blot, enzymatic measurements, fluorescence/confocal microscopy.

Eligibility

Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment

Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.