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Research labs with open PhD positions
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Research topics: Mechanisms of leukemogenesis Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a malignant haematopoietic disease that represents over 90% of acute leukaemias in adults. Minute changes in expression of critical transcription factors have been shown to deregulate haematopoiesis and aberrations in myeloid transcription factors have been observed in AML patients. Our research team is particularly interested in the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) transcription factor family, which regulates the commitment of haematopoietic stem cells towards the myeloid lineage. Specifically, we investigate the functions of C/EBPγ and C/EBPα transcription factors and their target genes in normal haematopoiesis and malignant transformation in AML. Also, we aim to identify small-molecules able to reactivate targets of the C/EBPα, ultimately resulting in therapeutic restoration of granulocytic differentiation in AML. PhD Project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Meritxell Alberich-Jorda (alberichjorda@img.cas.cz) |
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Research topics: Maintenance of genome stability, oncogene-induced replication stress, RecQ DNA helicases, R-loops, replication-transcription collisions DNA damage is a frequent event in the life of a cell. Failure to repair DNA damage can lead to cell death, while inaccurate DNA repair can give rise to genomic instability, which promotes the onset of cancer in mammals. Research in our laboratory focuses on understanding various DNA repair mechanisms operative in mammalian cells. Our main aim is to define the exact DNA transactions mediated by RecQ DNA helicases, key players in the maintenance of genomic stability. Recently, we obtained funding from the Czech Science Foundation to study molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and resolution of RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops), highly genotoxic structures that can arise as a consequence of collisions between replication and transcription machineries. This is an extremely important, but not well understood, aspect of the maintenance of genome stability that attracts more and more scientists worldwide. PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Jana Dobrovolná (jana.dobrovolna@img.cas.cz) |
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Research topics: Chemical genetics, haematopoietic and neural cell differentiation, signalling pathways, nuclear receptors The main interest of the laboratory lies in the molecular mechanism of cell fate determination. In the lab we have established in vitro systems to study the self-renewal and differentiation of haematopoietic, neural and mesenchymal stem cells. We use growth factors and small molecules as tools to manipulate these systems. More recently, we have initiated more systematic search for such tools using chemical biology/genetics approaches. PhD project: Mouse transgenic models for sterol-sensing domain containing proteins Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Petr Bartůněk (bartunek@img.cas.cz) |
PhD project: Zebrafish models for normal and malignant hematopoiesis This project aims at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate determination and differentiation of blood cell progenitors as well as studying processes involved in cell transformation of leukemic cells. The candidate will further develop ex vivo and in vivo techniques and employ already established methods like hematopoietic cell transplantation, embryo microinjection, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, RNAseq, SNP analysis and advanced live animal imaging. Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Petr Bartůněk (bartunek@img.cas.cz) |
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PhD Project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Pavel Dráber (pavel.draber@img.cas.cz) |
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Research topics: Genetic control of meiotic recombination and hybrid sterility, epigenetic inheritance, genetics and the origin of species
Meiosis is a unique type of cell division producing haploid gametes. Meiotic recombination assures proper segregation of chromosomes into gametes and genetic variation among offspring. Meiosis also functions as a barrier to filter out deleterious genic and chromosomal mutations and to prevent gene flow between species. Recently, we identified the first hybrid sterility gene in vertebrates, Prdm9, and the interacting Hstx2 locus on chromosome X. The role of these two genetic factors in meiotic recombination and in reproductive isolation between two closely related mouse subspecies, as well as the transmission of epigenetic marks through meiosis are the cutting-edge topics of the genetics of speciation currently studied in the lab. PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Petr Jansa (petr.jansa@img.cas.cz) |
www.img.cas.cz/research/martin-gregor
www.researchgate.net/profile/Martin_Gregor
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Candidate’s profile (requirements): We are seeking outstanding self-motivated candidates with master’s degree in molecular biology, physiology, general biology, biochemistry or related fields. We are offering research at a state-of-the-art equipped institute with experienced colleagues, international working environment and international collaborations. Applications are invited for Ph.D. student positions in the Department of Integrative Biology, at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i. (IMG, Prague, Czech Republic). The positions (up to five years) are fully funded by several grants. The successful candidates will learn and utilize advanced cell-biology, molecular-biology and imaging techniques, while developing and analyzing various mouse models. In particular, the research will focus on one of the following topics:
Supervisor: Martin Gregor (martin.gregor@img.cas.cz) |
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PhD Position 1 PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Pavel Hozák (hozak@img.cas.cz) |
PhD Position 2 PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Jindřiška Fišerová (jindriska.fiserova@img.cas.cz) |
PhD Position 3 PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Pavel Hozák (hozak@img.cas.cz) |
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Research topics: Colorectal cancer, Wnt signalling, TCF/LEF transcription factors, Hypermethylated in Cancer 1, HIC1
The majority of tissues in the adult organism contain a population of tissue-specific stem cells. These multipotent cells are involved in homeostatic self-renewal and tissue repair processes. The biology of the stem cells is driven by a limited set of signalling cascades. The deregulation of these cascades can ultimately lead to the cellular transformation and formation of tumours. This clearly indicates the connection between the stem cell physiology and cancer. The scientific goal of the laboratory is to elucidate molecular mechanisms influencing behaviour of normal and diseased intestinal epithelial cells. Since the fate of these cells is determined by the so-called Wnt signalling pathway, our main focus is to find genes regulated by the Wnt pathway and/or encoding proteins directly involved in the signalling process. PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Lucie Láníková (lucie.lanikova@img.cas.cz) |
www.img.cas.cz/research/zbynek-kozmik
http://kozmik.img.cas.cz
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Research topics: Eye development and evolution, Pax genes, Wnt/β-catenin signalling
We are interested in the genetic basis of mammalian eye development. Our focus is on the role of transcription factors and signalling cascades, especially on the role of Pax6 gene, Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and their genetic interaction. A combination of gain-of-function (transgenic) and loss-of-function (conditional knock-outs) approaches is used. Our second main interest is eye evolution. Early morphological studies have suggested that eye has evolved multiple times during the course of evolution. In contrast, more recent genetic data indicate a conserved role of Pax6 and some other transcription factors in eye formation in a wide range of animals. Several model systems including amphioxus, scallop, medaka and jellyfish are used in the laboratory to study various aspects of eye evolution. PhD project 1: Supervisor: Zbyněk Kozmik (kozmik@img.cas.cz) PhD Project 2: Supervisor: Zbyněk Kozmik (kozmik@img.cas.cz) |
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Research topics: Cell cycle, checkpoint, protein phosphorylation, oncogenic transformation In our recently established laboratory we employ cell biology, molecular biology and biochemical approaches to identify molecular mechanisms that control cellular responses to DNA damage. In particular we focus on protein phosphatase PPM1D/Wip1 that plays an essential role in switching off the DNA damage response pathway, termination of the checkpoint and control of checkpoint recovery. PPM1D/Wip1 is an important negative regulator of the tumor suppressor p53. Recent data from transgenic mice and from human tumors implicate PPM1D/Wip1 as oncogene. Our work aims to decipher molecular mechanisms regulating function of PPM1D/Wip1 in human cells and in mouse models. In addition, we use chemical genetics to evaluate PPM1D/Wip1 as a potential pharmacological target. PhD Project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Libor Macůrek (libor.macurek@img.cas.cz) |
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Research topics: RNA splicing, spliceosome formation, alternative splicing, retinitis pigmentosa, nuclear structure PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: David Staněk (stanek@img.cas.cz) |
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PhD project 1: bioinformatics Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Petr Svoboda (petr.svoboda@img.cas.cz) |
PhD Project 2: developmental/molecular biology Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Petr Svoboda (petr.svoboda@img.cas.cz) |
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Research topics: The current fertility studies in model mammals move from the effects of single gene to genetic interactions important for human reproductive medicine that occur during spermatogenesis and oogenesis. The Prdm9 gene (also called Meisetz) is necessary for both male and female meiosis and fertility in the laboratory mouse. The biochemical function of the PRDM9 protein is to methylate histones. The mouse, bovine, and human PRDM9 proteins specify the sites of meiotic recombination. However, PRDM9 is dispensable for fertility in the dog. PRDM9 polymorphisms were revealed in sterile human patients and PRDM9 variation contributes to instability of the human genome. We have identified Prdm9 as the first vertebrate hybrid sterility gene. Different Prdm9 mutations display different stages and degrees of spermatogenetic arrest on various backgrounds, indicating that the resulting phenotype is dependent on genetic interactions of Prdm9. The project aims are: analyses of genes regulating germ cell development in mouse and rat testes and ovaries, interspecific differences important for translation studies; analyses of interactions and incompatibilities of genes expressed in testes and ovaries; analyses of models of germ cell development defects that are affected by Prdm9, including complete meiotic arrest (azoospermia), limited fertility (reduced sperm count – oligospermia), sperm head malformations (teratozoospermia), and reproductive age defects (time-dependent arrest of germ cell development). PhD project: Candidate’s profile (requirements): Supervisor: Zdeněk Trachtulec (zdenek.trachtulec@img.cas.cz) |