| Open Positions in the Sourjik lab
PhD position available Title: Computational analysis of bacterial signaling networks
Description: Understanding general evolutionary selected properties of cell signalling networks is essential for biology. The goal of this project is to focus on the well-tractable and relatively simple networks in chemotaxis and two-component signalling in Escherichia coli, analyzing three features that are expected to be common to most cellular networks: robustness against extra- and intracellular perturbations, evolutionary optimality in solving a particular task and the plasticity in adaptation to changing environmental conditions. We will use the advantage of their well-defined evolutionary purpose, well-established molecular biology and available mathematical models. In addition, potential benefits of the controlled intercellular heterogeneity in performance of these pathways will be investigated. We expect that resulting insights into the process of evolutionary network optimization will generally advance our understanding of biological systems. The modelling project will be carried out in a closed collaboration with experimental analyses performed within our group and with several modelling groups in Germany and USA. Application Deadline: 31.12.2011 Start: 01.01.2012 or later Methods: Computational modeling; numerical simulations References: http://www.zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de/sourjik/default.shtml Profile: Candidates should have a masters degree (or equivalent) in computational biology, biophysics or theoretical physics and be interested in quantitative biology. Contact: Victor Sourjik, E-mail: sourjik.victor@zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PhD position available Title: Quantitative analysis of two-component signalling in E. coli
Description: Two-component (TC) systems are the most common type of environmental sensors in bacteria, with 30 different TC systems in Escherichia coli and even more in other bacteria. A canonical bacterial TC system consists of a sensory histidine kinase and a phosphorylatable response regulator that mediates intracellular output. These systems regulate a large variety of functions, including stress responses and virulence. Despite their wide spread among bacteria, signalling details of these systems are poorly understood. The goal of this project is to use several fluorescence microscopy techniques to quantitatively analyze how TC signalling systems function in Escherichia coli. We will focus on spatial distribution of TC systems, kinetics and specificity of their signalling, robustness against extra- and intracellular perturbations, and their ability to adapt signalling properties to changing environmental conditions. The experimental results of this project will be used for computational analyses of the TC systems performed by other group members. Application Deadline: 30.01.2012 Start: 01.03.2012 or later Methods: Fluorescence microscopy; FRET; FRAP References: http://www.zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de/sourjik/default.shtml Profile: Candidates should have a masters degree (or equivalent) in molecular biology or microbiology and be interested in quantitative biology. Contact: Victor Sourjik, E-mail: sourjik.victor@zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Postdoc position available Title: Computational analysis of the yeast mating pathway
Description: Understanding general evolutionary selected properties of cell signalling networks is essential for biology. The goal of this project is to analyze the well-tractable and relatively simple model eukaryotic MAPK network that regulates mating pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, focusing on three general features of this network: robustness against extra- and intracellular perturbations, evolutionary optimality in solving a particular task and the plasticity in adaptation to changing environmental conditions. In addition, potential benefits of the controlled intercellular heterogeneity in performance of this pathway will be investigated. We will use the advantage of its well-defined evolutionary purpose, well-established molecular biology and available mathematical models. We expect that resulting insights into the process of evolutionary network optimization will generally advance our understanding of biological systems. The modelling project will be carried out in a closed collaboration with experimental analyses performed within our group and with several modelling groups in Germany. Application Deadline: 31.12.2011 Start: 01.01.2012 or later Methods: Computational modeling; numerical simulations References: http://www.zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de/sourjik/default.shtml Profile: Candidates should have a PhD degree in computational biology, biophysics or theoretical physics and have experience in modelling and simulation of cellular networks. Contact: Victor Sourjik, E-mail: sourjik.victor@zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de
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