PhD Position in Molecular and Epigenetic Control of Mammalian Development

A SNF-funded PhD position is available immediately in the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel to join the Developmental Genetics Group. The project will be carried out under the joint supervision by Prof. Rolf Zeller and PD Dr. Aimée Zuniga.

Understanding how a fertilized egg develops into to a complex multicellular organism is one of the most fascinating topics in biology. While the genes and pathways controlling embryonic development have been identified, the current challenge is to understand how genes are organized into the gene regulatory networks that control the expansion, specification and differentiation of progenitor and stem cells during embryonic tissue and organ development. Our group uses the developing mouse limb as a paradigm to study the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms controlling the spatio-temporal dynamics and robustness of gene expression during organ development. In addition to gaining molecular insights into the phenomenon of developmental robustness, our research provides fascinating insights into functionally relevant molecular changes that drive evolutionary diversification. The techniques used include CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in the mouse, epigenetic, chromatin, transcriptome and biochemical analyses and molecular analysis of gene expression during embryonic development.

Your position

The successful applicant will join an international research team in a biomedical research environment. You will do your PhD in an internationally leading research group, which allows for research in a highly collaborative and competitive research setting. All PhD students are members of the International PhD Program in Biomedicine.

Your profile

We are looking forward to recruit a highly motivated, passionate and committed PhD student with an MSc in either Molecular, Developmental or Epigenetics/Chromatin Biology, who is interested in groundbreaking discovery research. Knowledge of mouse genetics is an asset. Please note that the project involves research with embryos isolated from mice and other species.

We offer you

A stimulating research environment in an internationally renowned research team at the University

of Basel. The group is located in one of the flagship

Research Institutes at the Department of Biomedicine that is equipped with state-of-the-art

research facilities. The position also provides excellent training and career development

opportunities. For more information, please go to:

http://www.devgenbasel.com/

The University of Basel is an equal opportunity employer that offers competitive salaries and a very attractive work environment.