of the minimal mitochondria (mitosomes) of parasitic microbial eukaryotes:
Newcastle upon Tyne, UNITED KINGDOM
We are seeking to fill a fully funded PhD fellowship in molecular evolutionary biology for the Marie Curie Initial training Network ³Symbiomics Molecular Ecology and Evolution of Bacterial Symbionts². Symbiomics is funded by the European Framework Program 7 Marie Curie Actions with the purpose of offering Early Stage Researchers the opportunity to improve their research skills, join established research teams and enhance their career prospects.
Description:
Many parasitic microbial eukaryotes possess highly reduced organelles related to mitochondria called mitosomes that have lost many of the pathways and proteins, including those used for energy generation, that make mitochondria essential components of human cells. Mitosomes are thus excellent model systems for understanding the limits of mitochondrial reductive evolution and for identifying the truly essential features of these eukaryotic organelles of ancient endosymbiotic origin. The research and training: The project will be primarily based in the laboratory of Martin Embley and Robert Hirt (Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences) at Newcastle University. The early stage researcher will receive training in comparative bioinformatics of parasite genomes to formulate hypotheses of
mitosome evolution, functions and host-mitosome interdependencies, and training in molecular cell biology and advanced imaging techniques to test those hypotheses experimentally. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary and multinational group working at Newcastle on various aspects of parasite biology and evolution. Co-supervision by Prof Thomas Schweider, including secondment to the University of Greifswald, will be used to provide synergistic training in the proteomics of purified mitosomes. The Symbiomics network includes 14 leading research groups and participants from the private sector, and will provide additional training through a combination of local and network-wide activities that will include research secondments, workshops and courses, soft skills training, network and project meetings, regular thesis committee meetings, and mentoring. At
the end of the training the students will have the skills they need for successful careers in academia or industry in a broad range of disciplines.
Benefits:
The contract duration will be 36 months for the PhD position. The salary will be in accordance with the EU FP7 Marie Curie ITN regulations and will consist of salary, mobility allowance, a career exploratory allowance and contribution to participation expenses.
Requirements:
Master degree or equivalent in a biological sciences subject Applicants should have training and research experience in microbiology, molecular biology, or related disciplines. Very good knowledge of English in writing and speaking is required.
Applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria for Marie Curie Initial Training Networks. For PhD positions, the students should have an MSc or equivalent degree that enables them to begin their PhD studies. Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment.
Application
To apply, please submit, by E-mail to
Dr. T. M. Embley
Professor of Evolutionary Molecular Biology &
Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Holder
Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences
Lab/office M2.041 (2nd floor Cookson Building).
Framlington Place
Newcastle University
NE2 4HH
UK
Tel 0191 222 7702
Fax 0191 222 7424
University Home page:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/camb/staff/profile/martin.embley
New Lab Webpage:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/microbial_eukaryotes/
Take a look at our Molecular Systematics course Web Page - it is also
available in down-loadable (powerpoint) format:
http://bioinf.ncl.ac.uk/molsys
