PhD at swiz

Biozentrum Universität Basel
SIB - Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Klingelbergstrasse 50-70
4056 Basel Switzerland

PhD position: modeling RNA-protein interactions and inferring post-transcriptional regulatory codes

In the recent years it became apparent that normal development involves regulatory interactions of proteins and non-coding RNAs with target mRNAs, whose lifetime and protein output is thereby modulated. Over-expression of specific RNA-binding proteins as well as of regulatory RNAs such as miRNAs have been associated with various diseases, in particular with cancers. Developments in sequencing technologies coupled with novel experimental protocols yield large numbers of binding sites for various regulators. Analyses of such binding sites, together with various types of physical measurements (affinities of interactions, structure of regulator-target complexes, etc.) should enable us to understand and subsequently predict with high accuracy binding sites genome-wide and to study the extent and structure of these regulatory networks.

The group of Mihaela Zavolan (Biozentrum Basel and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics) aims to understand the logic and function of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during basic cell function, development and cancer. For this purpose we generate, analyze and computationally model large high-throughput biological data sets. We currently seek a highly motivated PhD student with a very strong quantitative background, interested to join our highly dynamic research group in order to investigate the logic of RNA binding protein - target interactions and the function of these interactions in normal and pathological conditions.

Requirements

We are looking for candidates with a background computer science, physics/biophysics, applied mathematics, computational biology or bioinformatics, and a demonstrated ability to perform research. Candidates should have experience in programming, preferably in C/C++ and a scripting language like Perl or Python. Although a formal training in molecular biology is not required the succesful candidates will be expected to collaborate closely with experimental colleagues and good communication skills are highly desirable.

Please submit your application letter, CV and the contact information of two references before December 15, 2009 to:

Prof. Mihaela Zavolan
Biozentrum Universität Basel
SIB - Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Klingelbergstrasse 50-70
4056 Basel Switzerland
email: mihaela.zavolan@unibas.ch