Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the inability of peripheral tissues to respond to insulin. Causation and progression of this disease correlates with decreased physical activity and increased body fat. Changes in life style such as diet and increased physical exercise are powerful interventions to ameliorate insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. In the framework of the ZIHP project "Skeletal muscle function and insulin sensitivity", our group is interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. We use adult muscle stem cells in culture and mouse models to approach this question. Our data will be integrated with results obtained in exercised diabetic patients. The position is available in fall/winter 2007 and will be jointly supervised by Christoph Handschin and Thomas A. Lutz.Our group is embedded at the Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (http://www.zihp.uzh.ch) and successful candidates will be members of the PhD program in Molecular and Integrative Human Physiology of the Lifescience Zurich Graduate School. For more information, please see http://www.physiol.uzh.ch/research/handschin.html and http://www.zihp.uzh.ch/index.php?text=1310#3

Further reading:
Handschin and Spiegelman (2006) Endocr Rev 27(7):728-35 Mootha et al. (2004) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101(17):6570-5 Handschin et al. (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100(12):7111-6

Requirements: A MS/diploma or equivalent degree. Knowledge of basic molecular and cell biology techniques, oral and written knowledge of English required. Experience with animal experimentation is of advantage, but not necessary.

Availability: Fall/Winter 2007 or by arrangement.

Applications: Please send your CV, summary of research experience and 2-3 letters of recommendation to apply.

Contact:
Christoph Handschin
University of Zurich
Institute of Physiology
Winterthurerstrasse 190
CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
email: