Faculty of natural science and technology Department of Biology

4 PHD POSITIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

1 PhD Position in Functional Genomics, ref.no. NT-52/08

One PhD positions in functional genomics/molecular biology/bioinformatics is available at Department of Biology, for a period of 4 years with 25% teaching responsibilities. The position is linked to the Cell and Molecular Biology Group http://boneslab.bio.ntnu.no/index.html at Department of Biology. The PhD will be a part of an EU-project organized with 7 European research groups coordinated by professor John Mundy. The project groups have complementary competence (physiology, genetics, molecular biology, functional genomics, bioinformatics). The overall objective will be to analyze responses and adaptations in plants to combined stresses, and to identify the level and functions of stress regulatory networks and crosstalk. Both biotic (pathogens and insects) and abiotic (unfavourable environmental conditions) stresses will be investigated. Genomic approaches in the model plant Arabidopsis will be used to provide the basic knowledge searched.

Plants are exposed to variable conditions and attacks from pathogens, insects and grazing animals. Plants have developed complex defence mechanisms including biologically active chemicals and physical adaptations to deal with these variable stresses. Plants can attract beneficial insects and repel other insects and have an innate defence system specific for pathogens. In this project we want to study how plants respond and control responses of multiple stresses. We aim to identify signalling, processes and networks involved under various stresses and to model how plants regulate and copes with stress.

The PhD candidate will mainly characterize transcriptional responses and analyze these data in a global gene regulatory context. Mutants and various biotic and abiotic conditions will be used to give a functional knowledge of the stress responses. The positions require a Master of Science (MSc/Cand scient) degree or similar within functional genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, biotechnology or biochemistry. The applicant must be qualified for the doctoral program within these disciplines.

The project is a close cooperation between the Cell and Molecular Biology Group and 6 other European research groups. Short term visits to collaborating groups are expected. We will put emphasis on composing a research team with complementary skills.

Questions regarding the position can be directed to Professor Atle M. Bones or Drs Ralph Kissen and Ishita Ahuja. More information about the Department of Biology is given at: http://www.bio.ntnu.no/eng/

2 PhD Positions in Systems Biology, ref.no. NT-59/08

Two PhD positions in Systems Biology are available at Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, for a period of 3 years with a possibility for an expansion to 4 years. The position is linked to the Cell and Molecular Biology Group http://boneslab.bio.ntnu.no/index.html at Department of Biology and is a part of a Systems Biology program funded by the Norwegian Research Council (NFR). PhD position A is for an experimentalist skilled in functional genomics. The preferred person has competence in at least one of the fields of transcriptional profiling, metabolomics/metabolite profiling, proteomics/protein profiling or bioinformatics. The work will include high throughput analysis of cellular and molecular defence responses using methods like DNA microarrays, GC-MS and LC-MS and development of bioinformatics methods/tools related to these techniques. Position B is for a person with good knowledge of tools and methods used in bioinformatics/systems biology. The task is to set up molecular level models of cellular and molecular defence system components based on genomic scale data generated from mutants, transgenic lines and abiotic and biotic stress induced biological material. This position will use data generated by in house experiments and external sources to study interaction patterns and predicted outcome of various components and stimuli on host defence processes. Models generated will be used to analyze the “host defence grid” of plants. As a member of CMB group you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities for genomics, molecular biology and molecular imaging.

The PhD candidates will work closely together and will be a part of a team studying cellular and molecular organisation and function of defence systems. And also together with a newly appointed systems biology group headed by Martin Kuiper and their skills in modeling, network inference and knowledge integration.

The positions require a Master of science (MSc/Cand scient) degree or similar within bioinformatics, biomathematics/statistics, cell and molecular biology, functional genomics or biochemistry. The applicant must be qualified for the doctoral program within these disciplines.

Questions regarding the position can be directed to Professor Atle M. Bones , associate professor Martin Kuiper or Dr. Per Winge

1 PhD Position in Molecular imaging (Functional genomics), ref. no NT-60/08

One PhD position in Molecular imaging/functional genomics is available at Department of Biology, for a period of 4 years with 25% teaching responsibilities. The position is linked to the Cell and Molecular Biology Group http://boneslab.bio.ntnu.no/index.html at Department of Biology and the Subcellular Interaction and Imaging node of The Norwegian Molecular Imaging Consortium (NorMIC) http://www.ntnu.no/nt/forskning/normic.

The NorMIC facilities are equipped for confocal laser scanning microscopy and multi-photon microscopy for imaging, as well as Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The Cell and Molecular Biology Group has up to date facilities for molecular biology and functional genomics.

The PhD will be a part of a FUGE program coordinated by professor Catharina Davies at Department of Physics. The objective will be to analyze protein-protein interactions and subcellular transport using methods like BiFC (Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation), FRAP and FRET. Genomic approaches in the model plant Arabidopsis will be used to provide the basic tools and knowledge searched.

The PhD candidate will make constructs for expression in eukaryote cells and analyse expression patterns and interactions and factors affecting expression and interaction. The positions require a Master of science (MSc/Cand scient) degree or similar within molecular biology, cell biology, biotechnology, biophysics or biochemistry. The applicant must be qualified for the doctoral program within these disciplines.

Questions regarding the position can be directed to Professor Atle M. Bones or Professor Catharina Davies

For all the 4 Positions: The appointment of the PhD fellow will be made according to national guidelines for appointment of PhD fellows at universities and university colleges.

In order to be accepted as a PhD student the grades of the MSc project has to be sufficiently high (in Norway: B/2.5 or better), or the applicant has to document a similar level through later scientific work. Candidates from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a Diploma Supplement or a similar document, which describes in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/recognition/diploma_en.html

The application must contain information on education, exams and previous practice. Publications and other scientific works which the applicant wishes to be taken into consideration must be attached to the application. Multi-authored publications will be considered but, in cases where the impact of the applicant on the publication is not evident, a brief description of the role of the applicant in the work should be enclosed.

The appointment will be in accordance to prevailing national directives as PhD fellow at universities with supplementary directives for NTNU. The applicant commit to participate in the organized doctoral study within the employment period, and the employment presupposes that the applicant is qualified for uptake to the PhD program at the Faculty. A contract concerning the employment period and the work duties of the fellow will be made.

The appointment will be made according to the general regulations regarding university employees. The government work force of Norway should reflect the diversity of the population, and this is an “Equal Opportunities position”. The annual salary of the PhD position is NOK 353.000,- per year (code 1017, level 45 according to the government pay-scale for university employees). There is 2% deduction for superannuation.

Within the application deadline, applicants should submit the application, a CV, certified copies of certificates of education and other relevant documents, three referees with e-mail addresses and phone number.

Further information about the Department of Biology can be found at: http://www.bio.ntnu.no/eng/

Applications and CV should be sent electronically through www.jobbnorge.no. Reference number: NT-52/59/60/08. Application deadline: 30.11.2008 or until candidates with the expected competence have been hired.

Other publications should be marked with the reference number and sent in 3 copies to Faculty of natural science and technology Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway. These documents will only be returned on inquiry.