招生物学博士Edmund Mach Foundation 与University of California at Davis

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招生物学博士一名：Edmund Mach Foundation - Environment Department (IT)与University of California at Davis -Department of Plant Sciences (USA)合作项目。
Project code: PJ10 AM 03
Evolution of regulatory elements of adaptive genes in Conifers
VAROTTO CLAUDIO, PhD
Claudio.varotto@iasma.it
Institutions: Edmund Mach Foundation - Environment Department (IT), University of California at Davis -Department of Plant Sciences (USA)
The project is a collaboration between the group of Dr. Claudio Varotto at the Research and Innovation Centre (CRI) of the Edmund Mach Foundation (http://www.iasma.it/), and the group of Prof. David Neale (http://dendrome.ucdavis.edu/NealeLab/). The successful candidate will carry out the project mainly at CRIFEM with a stage of at least 6 months at at the University of Davis, California (USA).
We offer a competitive scholarship , subsidized meal benefits, a foreign office providing support for accommodation search and bureaucratic aspects. We aim to help our candidates to develop their creative abilities of students to carry out original scientific research. The training environment of CRI offers an integrated approach on problems related to the domain of natural resources, biodiversity, genomics as well as food production , health, and biotechonologies.
The Institute is located in the wonderful setting of the Eastern Italian Alps, a few Km north of Trento, a renowned location for both summer and winter holydays (hiking, climbing, biking, skiing).
Scientific objectives
The aims of this project are:
1) the identification of regulatory elements (REs) in the promoters of genes involved in adaptive responses in conifers;
2) the analysis of patterns of RE nucleotide variation in conifers;
3) the assessment of the adaptive potential of polymorphisms affecting the RE identified in natural populations of selected conifer species.
Statement of the research problem
Conifers are extremely important tree species, both from an ecological and an economical point of view. Several candidate genes for stress adaptation have recently been identified in conifers or characterized in model species. While most of the studies currently focus on the identification of signals of selective pressure acting on the coding sequences, little is known about regulatory regions. We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic candidate to carry out a PhD project aimed at the identification of regulatory elements (REs) in the promoters of genes involved in adaptive responses in conifers.
Natural genetic variation affecting the REs identified will be assessed in natural populations of selected conifer species and associated to adaptive differences among them. Expression levels of the candidate genes will be correlated with stress sensitivity and stress resistance among conifer species. At the population level, the identification of nucleotide variations in the REs identified will allow to screen for natural variations of candidate gene expression levels in selected species by means of a “reverse ecology” approach. Population genetics studies will then provide the framework for the statistical identification of naturally occurring regulatory variation in adaptive genes in selected conifer species.
Research group
The long-term commitment of Varotto’s group is the understanding of the molecular bases of plant biodiversity generation and maintainance in natural and semi-natural environments. In particular, we are interested in the evolution of adaptive responses to abiotic stresses. Currently our projects focus on the comparison of adaptive mechanisms in congeneric species with different ecological preferences with respect to elevation and their ability to cope with low temperatures. We approach this biological question with a series of tools ranging from the in-house development of universal markers for sound reconstruction of the phylogeny of the species we are studying to the application of high-throughput sequencing for the discovery of genes under positive selective pressure in different plant species. In an attempt to provide an olistic view of the adaptive mechanisms underlying biodiversity generation, we are developing new approaches for the identification of regulatory elements to understand the role of gene expression regulation in plant adaptation.
FELLOWSHIP DESCRIPTION
FEM - Research and Innovation Centre welcomes applications for a 3-year PhD research fellowship starting on Spring 2011 to support brilliant and highly motivated students developing their career in the fields of evolutionary biology / population genetics. The project is part of a larger PhD programme encompassing 11 fellwships.
The official language of the programme is English. We welcome applications from students of all countries.
Applications can be sent starting from 13 September 2010.
General information
Applicants will be assessed on the basis of their curriculum and of the letter(s) of references. Referee forms sent by the applicants will not be considered.
The grant is for three years and the expected start is February 2011 (Spring 2011 at the latest). The gross salary is 20.000 Euros per year. Students will also benefit of funding for travelling as the projects include a minimum
period of 6-months stage at the University of California at Davis.
Please clearly indicate the preference for Project code PJ10 AM 03 in your application form.
Selected candidates are awarded a 3-years fellowship. The scholarship can be additionally extended for up to 1 year, pending the approval of the FEM PhD Fellowships Committee.
Please note that the CRI issues a specific certificate of attendance, but candidates are asked to register either at the doctoral school of the University partner of the project or of another University, in order to get the conferral of the PhD degree. The selected candidate has 1 year time from the start of the contract to register at the University doctoral school. If the candidate fails to register within the first year, the scholarship will be interrupted.
Admissions requirements
Candidates should hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in fields relevant to the research project (e.g. genetics, biology, ecology, environmental or natural science, …). Experience in the fields of evolutionary biology / population genetics are highly preferred but not compulsory. Documented molecular biology laboratory experience and basic computer skills are required.
The candidature must be accompanied by 2 letters of references.
DEADLINES
CRI PhD Office receives applications from September 13 to October 18, 2010.
Application deadline 18 October 2010.
To apply, the following items (see below) must be sent by e-mail to [email=phdfem@iasma]phdfem@iasma[/email] within October 13th 2010:
1) the application form filled in every part
2) your cv (max 1 page)
3) 2 referee forms directly sent by your referees at the e-mail: phdfem@iasma.it
NOTES:
1) Referee forms sent by the applicants will NOT be considered.
2) Please address any questions / enquiries to:
claudio.varotto@iasma.it
TEMPLATES OF APPLICATION FORMS (FILL IN THE CORRESPONDING WORD DOCUMENTS):
1) APPLICATION FORM
2) REFEREE FORM
Referee_2010.doc
Application_2010.doc

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