PhD position in Plant Evolutionary Biology; Genetic basis of the hornwort's carbon-concentrating mechanism 60 %
Inseriert am: 26.05.2020
Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany
PhD position in Plant Evolutionary Biology; Genetic basis of the hornwort's carbon-concentrating mechanism 60 %
A PhD position in Plant Evolutionary Biology is immediately available in the group of PD Peter Szovenyi at the Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany at the University of Zurich. The research project focuses on the Genetic basis of the hornwort's carbon-concentrating mechanism.
Your responsibilities
This position is supported by the DFG MadLand program Peter Szovenyi and Susann Wicke. The successful candidate has to comply with the requirements for obtaining a PhD in one of the associated PhD schools at the UZH. This, among others, includes carrying out independent research on the topic, writing up scientific publications, presenting her/his work on scientific conferences, taking courses offered by the UZH doctoral schools and contributing to teaching.
Your profile
Ideal candidates will have an MSc in biology with a specialization in evolution, developmental genetics and/or bioinformatics. This position primarily involves reverse genetic, microscopy, gas exchange measurements and bioinformatic work and requires advanced skills in handling, analyzing and interpreting high-throughput (metabolomic), next-generation sequencing data. Good skills in assembling vectors, carrying out genetic transformations and microscopy are also required. Previous experience with Chlamydomonas pyrenoids is a plus but not necessary. In case not all these skills are covered, the willingness to quickly acquire them is absolutely necessary. The student will closely work together with the second PhD student/postdoctoral associate in Germany on this grant. Students should be willing to work both in the wet lab and in the office doing computational work. The position is initially for three years. Selected candidates will be enrolled in one of the two affiliated PhD schools in evolution or plant sciences.
What we offer
We offer varied and interesting work in an inspiring and socially relevant environment. Diversity and inclusion are important to us. The Dept. of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany hosts research groups working on the evolutionary and ecological drivers of biodiversity, on the macroevolution of plants, on plant-insect interactions/pollination, on the evolution of mating systems, hybridization and speciation. The Dept. of Plant and Microbial Biology hosts many groups working on plant molecular and developmental biology, epigenetics, community genomics and plant adaptation. Both institutes are housed in the beautiful Botanical Gardens and host a diverse community of researchers in plant biology.
