Last application date May 15, 2024 00:00
Department WE11 - Department of Biology
Contract Limited duration
Degree You hold a Master in Sciences within the field of Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, or Bio-engineering Sciences, acquired before July 15th 2024.
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated PhD student to optimize genome editing techniques and study carbon capture mechanisms in the green seaweed Ulva. The PhD project is part of an FWO ERC Runner-up project (Starting Grant) that has emerged from existing research lines in Phycology Research Group and Plant Genome Editing Group at Ghent University on Ulva functional biology. More specifically, we want to understand the cellular processes that allow Ulva compressa to control carbon fixation. To achieve this, we first need to expand our toolset: we are able to activate the expression of genes (gain-of-function), but are limited by the efficiency of technology enabling inhibition of gene function (loss-of-function). Ulva is currently the only macroalgae where gain- and loss-of-function mutants can be generated and an emerging model in molecular biology.
The PhD researcher will be responsible for optimizing targeted genome editing efficiency in Ulva and designing the first CRISPR screen in an alga. CRISPR mutagenesis is possible in Ulva, but currently not efficient to execute large-scale screens. The PhD researcher will increase vector-based CRISPR mutagenesis efficiency in Ulva using an established selection system and a large collection of vector building blocks. The effect of different vector architectures, CRISPR applications and culture conditions on genome editing efficiency will be evaluated.
Ulva species have the world’s highest photosynthetic rates per area and possess a combination of unique Carbon Concentrating Mechanisms (CCMs) that allow flexible uptake of inorganic carbon from the surrounding seawater. The FWO ERC Runner-up project aims to link the capacity of Ulva to grow fast and form nuisance blooms with their efficient carbon fixation. To achieve this goal, the PhD candidate will study putative CCM regulators using gain- and loss-of-function mutants. Gain-of-function mutants (gene tagging) will allow to study protein localization and protein-protein interactions, phenotyping loss-of-function mutants will reveal how defects in carbon acquisition affect algae growth.
The student will work on the following topics, with the goal of obtaining a PhD in Sciences: Biology from Ghent University (UGent):
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Send your application to Jonas Blomme (jonas.blomme@ugent.be) with as subject ‘ULVA PhD'. Your application must include the following documents:
Ghent University is one of the top 100 universities in the Dutch language area, with more than 44,000 students and 15,000 staff members.
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