PhD position in cell biology (Halle)

A PhD position is available at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Pathobiochemistry at the Medical Faculty of the University of Halle.
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in cell biology, molecular biology and protein biochemistry.
The project focuses on the functional analysis of the multifunctional proteins of the plakophilin family and their role in cell signaling. We have recently shown that plakophilins 1 and 3 function in the regulation of translation initiation (Cell Cycle 2010; 9:2973-8; J Cell Biol. 2010; 188:463-71). The project aims at a comprehensive characterization of the role of plakophilins in mRNA translation and mRNA processing and its physiological function in the context of wound healing and tumorigenesis of the skin.
The project is supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and is part of the graduate school GRK 1591 “Posttranscriptional control of gene expression - mechanisms and role in pathogenesis” (further information at: http://www.medizin.uni-halle.de/index.php?id=786). This graduate school offers a versatile structured training program with seminars as well as hands on courses in a very stimulating atmosphere.
For further information please contact: Prof. Dr. Mechthild Hatzfeld.
E-mail: mechthild.hatzfeld©medizin.uni-halle.de


Mechthild Hatzfeld
mechthild.hatzfeld@medizin.uni-halle.de
Universität Halle, Institut für Molekulare Medizin
Halle

Ph. D studentship, Molecular biology, Muenster Germany (D-48149 Muenster, Germany)

Our laboratory is interested in exploring the function of oncogenic transcription factors and the tumor suppressor Pdcd4 in the control of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Different projects in our laboratory address the mechanisms of gene regulation by Myb transcription factors and the development of Myb inhibitors (see for example: Wilczek et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2009, 284, 35314-35324, Bujnicki et al., 2011, Leukemia, e-pub ahead of print), the role of C/EBP factors (see: Plachetka et al., 2008, Mol. Cell. Biol., 28, 2102-2112, Wethkamp and Klempnauer, J. Biol. Chem. 2009, 284, 28783-28794) and the function of the tumor suppressor Pdcd4 (see: Bitomsky et al., 2008, Oncogene, 27, 4820-4829, Singh et al., , Singh et al., 2011. Oncogene 30, 4864-4873; Wedeken et al., 2011, J.Biol Chem. 286, 42855-42862).
Fellowships for Ph.D. students can be applied for at the International Graduate School of Chemistry at the University of Muenster. Deadline for applications is April, 30. See http://www.uni-muenster.de/GSC-MS for more information and the application procedure. See the home-page of our group (http://www.uni-muenster.de/Chemie.bc/) or contact Prof. K.-H. Klempnauer (klempna@uni-muenster.de) for more information.

Phd position in freshwater ecotoxicology, University Koblenz-Landau (Landau)

The Faculty 7: Natural and Environmental Sciences invites applications for a PhD position (part time 75%) at the Institute for Environmental Sciences at the Campus Landau/Pfalz, Germany. The appointment is for 3 years and salary will be according to 75% of the German public service salary scale TV-L 13.
Topic:
The PhD study investigates the combined effects of fungicides and climate change on organic matter breakdown in freshwater ecosystems. The study combines field investigations with experiments in artificial stream microcosms The candidate is expected to develop, conduct, analyze and publish the results. The study is funded by the German Research Foundation. As a member of the landscape ecology group, the PhD candidate will have access to state of the art equipment and will work within the young and interdisciplinary team of researchers at the Institute for Environmental Sciences.
Requirements:
The successful candidate holds a degree (M.Sc, Diploma) in a relevant field (e.g., ecology, environmental sciences, landscape ecology, chemistry), has a strong background in freshwater ecology, ecotoxicology or environmental chemistry, and is fluent in English language. She/he is interested in interdisciplinary research at the interface between toxicants and freshwater ecosystem functions, has the necessary practical skills to conduct field work and laboratory analyses (chemical and microbial analysis). She/he has a car driving license.
Please contact Jun.-Prof. Dr. R. Schäfer (schaefer-ralf@uni-landau.de) for further information.
It is the policy of the University Koblenz-Landau to increase the percentage of female employees. If equally qualified, preference will be given to female applicants. Disabled candidates are given priority, if equally qualified. International candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Applications should include a letter of motivation, a complete curriculum vitae and a letter of recommendation from a referee. Please send your application, quoting the reference number 40/2012, before 27 February 2012 to bewerbung@uni-koblenz-landau.de.
We do not send a confirmation of receipt. In accordance to the protection of data privacy all documents will be destroyed after the application procedure.


Ralf Schaefer
schaefer-ralf@uni-landau.de
Universität Koblenz-Landau
Landau

14 PhD Student Fellowships in Infection Biology of Human Pathogens (Hannover)

The International Research Training Group 1273 "Strategies of human pathogens to achieve acute and chronic infections”

Is seeking highly qualified and motivated individuals for 14 PhD Student Fellowships in Infection Biology of Human Pathogens (starting September 1, 2012)


Since 2006, the German Research Foundation (DFG) provides funding to Hannover Medical School (MHH), the Helmholtz Centre for InfectionResearch (HZI) in Braunschweig and the TWINCORE in Hannover to maintain an International Research Training Group (IRTG) together with the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm (coordinators: Sebastian Suerbaum, Hannover, and Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Stockholm). The central aim of the programme is to give young researchers the opportunity to perform their PhD work in the rapidly moving field of the infection biology of human microbial pathogens in a highly stimulating, competitive, international environment. The core element of the IRTG is a joint research programme centering on the question how human microbial pathogens achieve acute or persistent infection and how the host organism reacts to persistent infection. In addition, graduate students will participate in a highly interdisciplinary joint study programme. Stipends will be € 1,365/month and are available for up to three years. It is an integral part of the programme that PhD students spend 6-12 months in one of the partner labs at the Karolinska Institute.

Candidates who hold the equivalent of a master’s or diploma degree in Biology, Biochemistry or Life Sciences, or who graduated in medicine are welcome to apply. Those applicants who are selected for interviews in a first round of screening will be asked to attend a selection workshop in Hannover to be held June 19 / 20, 2012.

The deadline for receipt of a complete application is April 20, 2012.
Applications are only accepted via the online application platform http://www.irtg1273.mh-hannover.de starting February 23, 2012.

For detailed information on faculty and projects see http://www.mh-hannover.de/4587.html

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Suerbaum, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany, or IRTG1273@mh-hannover.de

Doctoral Programme in the Life Sciences

The International Giessen Graduate School for the Life Sciences (GGL) of the faculties of Psychology and Sport Sciences, Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine invites applicants for the

Doctoral Programmes in the Life Sciences

The Doctoral Programmes consist of a three-year interdisciplinary graduate course curriculum combined with an experimental project leading to a dissertation. Each doctoral researcher will be supervised by two professors from different faculties and will benefit from our Doctoral Researcher Development Programme. Seminars and courses are conducted in English; German language courses are offered for international students. Depending on the project selected and own qualifications students may receive a stipend and may be eligible to register for one of the doctoral degrees offered at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Dr. med., Dr. med. dent., Dr. biol. hom., Dr. med. vet., Dr. biol. anim., Dr. rer. nat., Dr. agr. and Dr. oec. troph).
Applicants may choose between eight interdisciplinary research sections: Nutrition and Metabolism; Infection and Immunity; Heart, Lung and Blood Vessels; Protein and Nucleic Acid Interactions; Neurosciences; Reproduction in Man and Animals; Bioresources and Biotechnology; Molecular Interactions at Natural Interfaces. A Master’s degree or equivalent is required for admission.
Names of prospective supervisors and research projects as well as other information necessary for application can be found at:

http://www.uni-giessen.de/ggl/overview/application

Please submit your application using our online application system before February 28, 2012. Please direct any enquiries to office@ggl.uni-giessen.de

PhD position in Ecology / Habitat modelling - Project B2.1 (Frankfurt am Main)

The Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) is a new interdisciplinary institute with the mission to carry out internationally outstanding research on the interactions of biodiversity and climate change on the organism level. It has been founded by the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, the Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, and other partners. The Centre is funded by the Federal State of Hesse through its Initiative for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE). It provides a new, dynamic research environment that integrates a variety of disciplines from both natural and social sciences. The Project Area B “Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate” invites applications for a

PhD position in Ecology / Habitat modelling
Project B2.1 [Ref. #B52a]

The main goal of the project is to model the distribution of marine benthos species in response to climate change. The successful applicant will investigate the impact of climatic factors on the distribution patterns of benthic organisms and develop methods to improve the performance of the modelling methods. We aim at applying new statistical quantitative methods for predicting changes of the functioning of marine benthic ecosystems in response to climate forcing.

The ideal applicant will have practical experience in statistical methods to model species distribution and GIS. We encourage application from non marine disciplines if the candidate has experience in distribution modelling methods. We seek a motivated, organized, independent and enthusiastic candidate with an MSc (or equivalent) in ecology, marine ecology, or related disciplines.

Salary and benefits are according to a public service position in Germany (TV-H E13, 50%). The Research Centre BiK-F advocates gender equality. Women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply. Equally qualified severely handicapped applicants will be given preference.

The position is a 27 months employment, starting April 1st, 2012. Given further funding of BiK-F, a follow-up contract is generally aspired. The project is carried out in cooperation with Dr. Henning Reiss, Marine Ecology group at the University of Nordland (BodØ, Norway), where the candidate will be enrolled as PhD student. The candidate will mainly work at Senckenberg am Meer in Wilhelmshaven (Germany) with abroad stays at the University of Nordland for one year in total. The candidate will be enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Nordland.

Please send your application by mail or (preferably) e-mail attachment, mentioning the reference of this position (#B52a) and including a letter outlining your suitability for the post, a detailed CV, contact details of 2 referees and a selection of your most important publications before February 24th, 2012 to: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. V. Mosbrugger, Scientific Coordinator Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. E-mail to Service and Administration: recruiting@senckenberg.de. For scientific enquiries please write to PD Dr. Ingrid Kröncke (email: Ingrid.Kroencke@senckenberg.de

) or Dr. Henning Reiss (email: henning.reiss@uin.no).

Nicole Kurth
recruiting@senckenberg.de
Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F)
Frankfurt am Main

PhD - Studying interactions of Membrane Proteins with ligands by DNP-enhanced Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy, Heise Group (Duesseldorf, Germany)

The NRW Research School BioStruct – Biological Structures in Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology at Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf in Germany, funded by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and  Research of the German Federal State North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), and the  school chairmen Prof. Dr. Lutz Schmitt and Prof. Dr. Dieter Willbold invite applications on PhD Scholarships starting in Spring  2012.

BioStruct offers innovative PhD education and research programs within a stimulating interdisciplinary environment combining the field of structural biology with molecular medicine and biotechnology. Highly motivated and excellent candidates holding an MSc or Diploma degree in the fields of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and relatedfields can directly apply for a

PhD Scholarship for the project "Studying interactions of Membrane Proteins with ligands by DNP-enhanced Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy”

including a monthly stipend of 1345,- EUR and contributions towards travel and research expenses.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in Physics and Biochemistry. Basic knowledge and experience in NMR or EPR spectroscopy is an advantage. A strong interest in Physics and structural biology and is a prerequisite. The applicant should be highly motivated, open for new approaches and techniques, and able to tackle demanding challenges. Workplace will be the exquisitely  equipped  Forschungszentrum Juelich in the group of Prof. Dr. Henrike Heise.

PhD Research Project Summary:
Transmembrane receptors and their interaction with ligand molecules still impose a major challenge upon structural biology: In the membrane-reconstituted state, such proteins are not accessible with liquid-state NMR spectroscopy, and crystallization protocols are far from standard. In the past decade, solid-state NMR spectroscopy has developed into a promising tool for structure elucidation or even determination of immobilized proteins which do not have to be crystalline nor soluble. One of the largest obstackles in solid-state NMR spectroscopy is still the low sensitivity. However, the inherently  low sensitivity of nuclear magnetization can be overcome by exploiting the 660 times higher magnetic moment of unpaired electrons for signal enhancement via dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). In 2012 our group will be equipped with one of the first DNP-spectrometers operating at a proton frequency of 600 MHz, in addition to existing state-of-the
art solid-state NMR spectrometers ranging from 600 MHz to 800 MHz. We are investigating several membrane receptors and their interactions with ligands. We also develop techniques tailored to specific questions and signal enhancement, and especially DNP will provide ample opportunities for methods developments.

For further information on the NRW Research School BioStruct, prerequisites and mandatory application forms please visit our website: www.biostruct.de

Application Deadline for the current call: 20th February 2012

B. Haumann
application@biostruct.de
Heinrich Heine University, NRW Research School BioStruct
Duesseldorf, Germany

Full position for a PostDoc or PhD student in Cancer Bioinformatics (Berlin)

The research group for „Knowledge Management in Bioinformatics“ at the Institute for Computer Science of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has an opening for a Research position in Systems Biology of Cancer. The position is available immediately and will run for three years. Payment is according to federal regulations TV-L 13. The position is equally adequate for a PostDoc or a enthusiast PhD student.

The Project
-----------
The position is part of the BMBF-funded project "Prositu: Modelling and Proteome Signatures of Therapy-relevant Signaling Pathways in Tumors". This collaborative project consists of five research groups from Charite Berlin, MDC Berlin (speaker: Prof. Scheidereit), and Humboldt-Universität Berlin. We will develop novel methods for classifying time-course high-resolution proteomic data in quest for biomarkers.

The Environment

The holder of the position will work together with an interdisciplinary team from computer science, medicine, bioinformatics, and biochemistry currently consisting of 12 researchers plus a number of students. He or she will also profit from a number of other projects in the group related to biomedical data analysis; other research topics at WBI are biomedical databases and query optimization, data integration, text mining, and optimization of scientific workflows. Further information on the group may be found at http://www.informatik.hu-berlin.de/wbi

Requirements

   Very good Diploma or Master in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biostatistics, or a related subject
   Very good knowledge of recent methods in Biotechnology (proteomics, metabolomics, sequencing, ...)
   Good knowledge of techniques in Machine Learning
   Good knowledge in molecular biology / tumor biology
   good knowledge of biomedical databases for high-throughput data
   Very good communication skills to work in a highly interdisciplinary team
   In case of pre-Phd applicants: interest in pursuing a PhD project

Contact

Please send applications containing the usual documents (certificates, summary of Master or PhD thesis, list of publications, references) by email to Prof. Dr. Ulf Leser. Please also send all questions directly to him.

Humboldt-Universität is an equal-opportunity employer. Applications from disabled persons are, if equally qualified, handled with preference. We strongly encourage applications by females.


Ulf Leser
leser@informatik.hu-berlin.de
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Berlin

Master Student in Bioinformatics (Heidelberg)

The ability to perform complex analysis of biological data using, and integrating, a variety of software tools is fast becoming an essential skill for the future biologist. High-throughput technology is an area that relies heavily on such bioinformatic skills. RNA Sequencing is one such high-throughput area, which is revolutionising measurement of transcriptome composition, and is becoming the tool of choice for gene expression studies.

A focus of The Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics (Prof. Michael Boutros) is deciphering the role of the WNT signaling pathway. We are looking for a student who is interested in analysis of this pathway, concentrating on its cross-regulatory role with other signaling pathways in a human cancer cell line. Working with both experienced bioinformaticians and experimental biologists, the proposed project will involve data-mining specific RNASeq datasets, considerable research into cross-regulatory mechanisms between the signaling pathways, and data visualization and management techniques.

This project will also involve using a variety of techniques and command line tools, such as R, a statistical programming language, data-mining, and data visualization and presentation methods. Data quality assessment will also form part of the project.

We are looking for a highly motivated student interested in learning analysis methods of large-scale experimental data. A willingness to become familiar with a variety of software will be required.


Esther Schmidt
e.schmidt@dkfz.de
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)
Heidelberg

PhD at the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) From Molecules to Organisms (Tübingen)

The IMPRS “From Molecules to Organisms” is an international PhD program offered jointly by the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory and the Eberhard Karls University in Tuebingen, Germany.
Interdisciplinary research topics cover the fields of structural biology; molecular and cellular biology; bioinformatics; molecular genetics in plant and animal models; developmental biology; evolution, natural variation and ecology.

We offer:
•       Cutting-edge research projects
•       Excellent research facilities
•       Financial support
•       Supporting curriculum with many optional courses
•       International environment with English as the working language
More information and online application at www.imprs.tuebingen.mpg.de
Next application deadline: March 15, 2012

Contact:
Sarah Danes, IMPRS Coordinator
E-mail: imprs@tuebingen.mpg.de
Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstr. 35,
72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Tel:  (49) (0) 7071-601 477
Fax: (49) (0) 7071-601 359

Bachelor/Master Students in Cell Biology (Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin) (Berlin)

The Rocks Lab is interested in Rho GTPase proteins, the master regulators of the cytoskeleton.
We investigate how the signaling function of Rho GTPases is controlled in space and time in cells and how this precision control is required to drive specific cell shape changes, in normal and disease settings. In focus are Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) and Rho GTPase activating proteins (RhoGAPs) which are believed to be major contributors of spatio-temporal information. The lab combines cell biological, genetic and systems approaches, with a strong focus on advanced live cell microscopy, in order to characterize novel mem-bers of these regulatory protein families. We aim for a better understanding of Rho protein signaling specificity, i.e. to identify general mechanisms that couple the activity of the GTPases to different environmental cues and functional contexts in cells.

The bachelor/master projects specifically focus on the characterization of novel RhoGAP or RhoGEF proteins for which interesting preliminary data exist. The work would involve a wide range of techniques from biochemistry, cell biology to advanced live cell microscopy (confocal, TIRF, FRET biosensors), thus providing excellent training opportunities.

If you are interested to work in a young international team of enthusiastic scientists please send your CV to oliver.rocks@mdc-berlin.de

Plant Biology - 2 Ph.D. graduate student positions - funded (Freising-Weihenstephan)

The Department of Plant Systems Biology at the Technische Universität München (TUM) invites applications by highly motivated candidates for two Ph.D. positions in the field of plant systems biology and biochemistry/cell biology. Both positions are to be filled within the forthcoming months. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview.

Topic 1: Characterizing of the Arabidopsis thaliana protein-protein interaction network

The proteins encoded in every genome mediate their biochemical roles by interacting with other proteins. Together the interacting proteins form complex interaction networks in which all proteins are connected to each other. Cellular systems are thereby organized in complex protein interaction networks that have emergent properties. Biological systems are ‘more than the sum of their parts’ and the network organization plays a critical role for this. To understand living systems it is important to study and understand how proteins are organized in these networks and how genetic variation alters networks to affect traits like yield or stress-resistance.

The goal of this highly collaborative project is to map the protein-protein interaction network using advanced protein interaction analysis technologies, including the yeast-two-hybrid system, and liquid handling robots. The resulting maps are analyzed using biochemical, statistical and computational tools. Other opportunities for study of plant-pathogen network interactions exist. Experience in computational data analysis and affinity to high-throughput experimentation is desirable.

References:
Arabidopsis Interactome Mapping Consortium; Braun P* (Chair) et al., Network Evolution in a Plant Interactome Map. Science 2011 Jul 29; 333:596-601
Independently Evolved Virulence Effectors Converge onto Hubs in a Plant Immune System Network. Mukhtar et al.; Science 2011 Jul 29; 333:601-7

Topic 2. Cell biological and biochemical characterization of auxin transport-regulatory protein kinases

The plant hormone auxin has the unique property that it is being transported from cell-to-cell in a directional and regulated manner through a system of auxin influx and auxin efflux carrier proteins. Auxin controls virtually all aspects of plant development, growth and tropic responses. The auxin efflux carriers of the PIN family are polarly localized in a cell and their polarity seemingly allows to predict auxin transport through the plant. PIN polarity is regulated by phos phorylation via the protein kinase PINOID. We have recently identified a related protein kinase, D6PK, which we believe to regulate auxin transport activity.

Goal of the proposed Ph.D. thesis project is to understand the regulation of PIN by D6PK. To this end, the lab has generated a large set of genetic, cell biological and biochemical tools and technologies that will allow the successful applicant to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying auxin transport activity regulation using cell biological and biochemical methods.

Reference
Melina Zourelidou, Isabel Müller, Björn C. Willige, Carola Nill, Yusuke Jikumaru, Hanbing Li, and Claus Schwechheimer (2009). The polarly localized D6 PROTEIN KINASE is required for efficient auxin transport in Arabidopsis thaliana. Development 136(4): 627 - 636.

Location
The Department of Plant Systems Biology of the Technische Universität München is located on the Weihenstephan campus in Freising, ca. 30 km north of Munich. The department has direct access to state-of-the-art facilities for research in molecular biology, biochemistry, proteomics and microscopy.

Funding is according to TVL13 (50 – 80%).

Please send your application in English or German (cover letter, CV, transcripts and contacts of two references) to claus.schwechheimer@wzw.tum.de

.

Further information about the laboratory can be found at: www.wzw.tum.de/sysbiol/

PhD position in river ecology

The Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) is the largest freshwater ecology research institute in Germany (ww.igb-berlin.de). It is a member of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and the Leibniz-Association (www.wgl.de). The FVB manages 8 large research institutes in Berlin that have close links to all three universities in the German capital. IGB offers excellent laboratory and field facilities for interdisciplinary research, large-scale experimental facilities, and long-term research programs and data sets.

IGB invites applications for a
PhD position in river ecology.

The position is embedded in the European research project REFORM - Restoring rivers FOR effective catchment Management, an interdisciplinary project with partners from 14 countries and 25 institutions. The objective of the PhD comprises studying the interactions between hydromorphology and aquatic vegetation as well as the effects of aquatic plants on habitat quality, food web, nutrient retention and oxygen budget.
The position is available from April 2012 and limited to 3 years.

Duties and responsibilities
•       analyses of interactions between aquatic vegetation, flow conditions and river morphometry
•       measurement of effects of macrophytes on nutrient retention and re-aeration
•       contribution to studies on interactions between macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish
Requirements
•       completed studies in the field of aquatic ecology, landscape ecology, hydromorphology and related
•       interest and expertise in ecology of aquatic macrophytes and/or hydrodynamics
•       good command in English
Salary is paid according to the TVöD (50% position). In keeping with the IGB's policy regarding gender equity, female applicants are particularly encouraged. Disabled people with identical qualifications will be favoured.

Please send your applications / further inquiries to Dr. Christian Wolter (preferably by e-mail: wolter@igb-berlin.de) until February 15, 2012. Applicants should submit CV, a cover letter indicating research interests and experience, and the name and contact details of two referees. A pdf-file of the Diploma or Master Thesis is highly appreciated.

Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany


Anfangsdatum: 1. April 2012

geschätzte Dauer: 3 Jahre

International PhD program for Regenerative Therapies - Germany

The international PhD program of the Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT) offers outstanding interdisciplinary training and research opportunities for students of natural, material and engineering sciences who want to pursue a career in the field of Regenerative Medicine and aim at translating their scientific discoveries into clinical applications.

The BSRT is a collaboration between the Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Freie Universität Berlin, the Technische Universität Berlin, the Universität Potsdam, Max Planck and Helmholtz Institutes  and other high-ranking research institutions in Berlin and Brandenburg. This collaboration offers top class scientific training leading to the award of a Dr. rer. nat. or Dr.-Ing. degree for students with a Master’s or equivalent degree in biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, veterinary medicine, chemistry, engineering, material science or physics.

Methoden:
Application deadline is the 25th January 2012. Please use only the online application form provided on our website at www.bsrt.de where you can also find further information about the BSRT and the application procedure.

The BSRT is an equal opportunities Graduate school. We particularly encourage applications from women. We also welcome applications from disabled persons and the BSRT operates a policy whereby preference is given to disabled applicants who have qualifications equivalent to those of able bodied persons applying for the same position.

Anfangsdatum: 1. April 2012

geschätzte Dauer: up to three years

Bezahlung: Doctoral positions are available

Homepage: http://www.bsrt.de

Call for application to the International PhD program of the Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT)

The international PhD program of the Berlin-Brandenburg School for
Regenerative Therapies (BSRT) offers outstanding interdisciplinary
training and research opportunities for students of natural, material
and engineering sciences who want to pursue a career in the field of
Regenerative Medicine and aim at translating their scientific
discoveries into clinical applications.

The BSRT is a collaboration between the Charité- Universitätsmedizin
Berlin, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Freie Universität Berlin,
the Technische Universität Berlin, the Universität Potsdam, Max
Planck and Helmholtz Institutes and other high-ranking research
institutions in Berlin and Brandenburg. This collaboration offers top
class scientific training leading to the award of a Dr. rer. nat. or
Dr.-Ing. degree for students with a Master´s or equivalent degree in
biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, veterinary medicine, chemistry,
engineering, material science or physics. The program will start in the
second quarter of 2012. It is not necessary to hold the Master´s
degree at the time of application but it must have been awarded prior
to enrolment into the program.

The international PhD program of the BSRT comprises a series of
courses, seminars and research projects designed to equip students
with the essentials to become effective scientists in Regenerative
Medicine. Interaction between biological, engineering and clinical
research will be fostered through mutual supervision of each PhD
project by top class researchers from different disciplines from
academia and industry.

*Application deadline is the 25.01.2012*. Please use only the onlineJapplication form provided on our website at www.bsrt.de where you can also find further information about the BSRT and the application procedure.

The BSRT is an equal opportunities Graduate school. We particularly encourage applications from women. We also welcome applications from disabled persons and the BSRT operates a policy whereby preference is given to disabled applicants who have qualifications equivalent to those of able bodied persons applying for the same position.

Apply here...<http://www.bsrt.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=140>

PhD Position in Molecular Virology (Berlin)

PhD POSITION IN MOLECULAR VIROLOGY IN BERLIN AVAILABLE
in the lab of Prof. Christian Hagemeier working on VIRUS-HOST INTERACTIONS
Institute:
Charité Universitätsmedizin
Labor für Pädiatrische Molekularbiologie
Charité is a leading research institution in the field of Molecular Medicine with an international, stimulating and interactive environment and cutting edge infrastructure core facilities.
Research topic:
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a wide-spread pathogen that under normal conditions establishes a latent, non-productive infection in its host. In immunocompromised or immunonaive individuals, however, the lytic mode of infection is favoured which can result in severe disease. The control of viral immediate early (IE) gene expression is critical for the decision between the latent and lytic mode of infection and therefore represents an active focus of research. Our lab has discovered that Cyclin A-associated kinase activity acts as a potent inhibitor of IE gene expression and has further defined the Cyclin A substrate mediating this effect (unpublished). The aim of the PhD project is to characterize this virus-host interaction at the molecular level and to study its contribution to HCMV latency in hematopoietic progenitor cells. For information in greater detail please see: Zydek et al. (2011) J Gen Virol 92, 2757; Zydek et al. (2010) PLoS Pathogens 6, e1001096; Wiebusch et !
 al. (2008) J Virol 82, 10188.
Requirements:
• Excellent grades during the qualifying degree (Diploma or M.Sc.) in biochemistry, molecular biology or molecular medicine
• Experience in standard molecular and cellular biology techniques (i.e., cell culture, transfection, plasmid construction, PCR, protein biochemistry).
• Good language skills in English
• You are ambitious, creative, goal-oriented, able to work well in a team and to pay in depth attention to your experimental work.
Salary:
TV-Charité E13/ 50%
Starting date:
As soon as possible
Duration:
The position is available for three years.
Closing date for applications:
22.01.2012
Applications to:
Applications should be sent to christian.hagemeier@charite.de
The application should include a CV with description of previous research experience and two references/letters of recommendation.
Information:
For further information please contact:
Dr. L. Wiebusch, e-mail: lueder.wiebusch@charite.de
Prof. C. Hagemeier, e-mail: christian.hagemeier@charite.de

PhD position, BioQuant University Heidelberg (Heidelberg)

PhD position is available at BioQuant, University Heidelberg.

The Cell Mechanics group at BioQuant, the Center for “Quantitative Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems” at University Heidelberg, seeks applications for a PhD position. We focus on the experimental and theoretical investigation of mechanical cell properties and their relationship to molecular cell profiles in norm and pathology. In our research, we combine diverse methods for mechanical cell manipulation, microfluidic microscopic imaging, molecular screening und numerical modelling.

Your profile: a background in cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and/or biological engineering is required. Experience in experimental cell biology, microscopy and computational data analysis is a plus.

Your application: please send your application as a single *.pdf including CV, certificates (if not german, please include english translations), as well as any publications, manuscripts, thesis, recommendations (if applicable) to Dr. E. Gladilin  {evgeny.gladilin(at)bioquant.

uni-heidelberg(dot)de}.

Von:

Evgeny Gladilin
evgeny.gladilin@bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de
BioQuant, University Heidelberg
Heidelberg

Ansprechpartner: Dr. E. Gladilin, evgeny.gladilin@bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de

PhD Position - The role of mitochondrial genome in the pathogenesis of autoimmune blistering diseases (Lübeck)

A 3-year PhD student position in the field of autoimmune skin blistering disease research is immediately available at Genetics group in the Department of Dermatology, University of Luebeck, Germany.
The project is focused on dissecting the role of mitochondrial genome role in the autoimmunity. For this purpose, we investigate a mouse model of autoimmune blistering skin disease in unique set of mitochondrial DNA mutant mouse strains. In addition to in vivo experiments, characterization and functional analysis of immune cells and mitochondria will be carried out.
As a candidate for this position, you will
•       Have a Master degree in the relevant field of life sciences
      (immunology, biology, genetics, biochemistry etc)
•       Preferably have laboratory experience
•       Be able to handle experimental animals (mouse)
•       Have a good written and spoken English
•       Have a strong passion for science
We offer:
•       Salary in accordance with German standards E13/2
•       Individualized supervision and mentoring
•       Excellence research environment
To apply this position, send:
•       Your full CV
•       A cover letter outlining your qualification for this position
•       A list of your methods and techniques
•       A transcription of your university
•       Two  references
via e-mail to Dr. Misa Hirose (misa.hirose@uk-sh.de), Department of Dermatology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.

PhD Position - Regulation of adipogenesis (Dresden)

Obesity is characterized by increased adipocyte number and size as well as adipose tissue inflammation. The increase in adipocyte number results from the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells of the vascular stromal fraction of adipose tissue. These steps, regulated by various endocrine, paracrine and autocrine factors, are extensively studied with the hope to interfere and to inhibit weight gain in overweight patients. We could recently identify a new mechanism in the regulation of human adipogenesis and its potential involvement in the development of obesity (paper submitted).
The PhD project will now identify this adipogenic mechanism in a transgenic mouse model and in cell culture experiments of mouse and human adipocytes. This project will help identifying new regulatory pathways in the regulation of adipogenesis and the development of overweight and consequently to the development of therapeutic targets to interfere with these processes.

Methods: The work includes standard techniques such as cell culture, real-time PCR, PCR, cloning, transfection, siRNA, Western blot, FACS, ELISA, histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, work with animal models. Generation of inducible mice is also planned.

We are looking for a highly motivated student who would like to join our international research team at the University of Dresden. Requirements are Diploma or Master in Biology, Biotechnology or similar and some basic experience in lab work.
Please send your application by email. Your application should include: details on your University education (all University degrees that you are holding or expect to hold), research experience, research interests and motivation, scanned copies of University certificates and transcripts of marks (record of study). Please provide the degree certificates and transcripts of marks for each degree (e.g. BSc degree and MSc degree or Diploma degree).

Dr. Monika Ehrhart-Bornstein
monika.bornstein@uniklinikum-dresden.de
Molecular Endocrinology, Medical Clinic, Technical University Dresden
Dresden

Ansprechpartner: Monika Erhhart-bornstein, monika.bornstein@uniklinikum-dresden.de

PhD position in molecular virology (Erlangen)

"Characterization of intrinsic immune mechanisms to lentiviral infection and their role in innate immunity"

Overcoming the immune system of the host is key to a successful retrovirus infection. Recent advances in the field show that innate and intrinsic immunity provide a crucial barrier to infection. Retroviruses, have developed diverse ways to overcome innate immune mechanisms. Over the last couple of years lentiviral accessory proteins emerged as key players in counteracting intrinsic immune mechanisms. The major focus of our research is to understand how innate immune mechanisms restrict retrovirus infection and analyzing the role lentiviral accessory proteins play in counteracting the cellular defense mechanisms.

Viruses of the HIV-2/SIVsm lineage encode the non-structural protein Vpx. Vpx facilitates the SIV and HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells like macrophages or dendritic cells, where it has been proposed to neutralize the antiviral restriction factor SAMHD1. This project will use gene transfer and proteomics approaches to identify host factors important for SAMHD1 function. We will also characterize the mechanism of the SAMHD1 block and analyze its role in innate immunity.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student with a strong background in virology, microbiology, immunology or cell biology. The successful candidate should have a masters degree/ diploma in one of the mentioned fields, good English skills and be willing to be part of our young and ambitious team at the Institute for Virology in Erlangen.


Prof.  Dr. Thomas Gramberg
thomas.gramberg@viro.med.uni-erlangen.de
Institut fuer Virologie
Erlangen

Ansprechpartner: Prof. Dr. Thomas Gramberg, thomas.gramberg@viro.med.uni-erlangen.de