PhD position in spatio-temporal analysis of human forebrain development on a single cell level

The Vogel lab (www.developmentalneuroepigenetics.uni-freiburg.de), Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Freiburg, uses single-cell sequencing approaches to study transcriptional regulation through histone modifications and transcription factors during cerebral cortex and hippocampus development, and in CNS disease. We are particularly interested in the function of the histone methyltransferase DOT1L and recently showed that DOT1L has a high plasticity leading to pleiotropic effects during specification of the cerebral neocortex layers (Franz et al, 2019), to alterations of the enhancer landscapes (Ferrari et al, 2020), and based on single cell analyses, to an adaptation of the metabolic program during neuronal differentiation (Appiah et al, 2022).

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to advance our understanding on human cortical development by exploring the DOT1L-dependent transcriptome and epigenome in single cells during human brain organoid differentiation with spatio-temporal resolution. Single cell sequencing technology of human brain organoids and iPSC will be combined with spatial transcriptomics and bioinformatics analyses.

The PhD candidate will be member of the MeInBio PhD research training group (RTG2344, funded by the German Research Foundation) and profit of their structured training curriculum. MeInBio aims at a dual education in bioinformatics and wet laboratory approaches to explore the spatio-temporal dynamics of gene regulation using high-throughput and high-resolution methods (www.meinbio.uni-freiburg.de).

We are looking for a junior researcher with a background in neuroscience, epigenetics and/or (single cell) – omics analyses.

The PhD position is funded from September 2023 for three years (65% TVL-E13, German public service pay scale).

We offer

• An exciting modern research project in a well-equipped laboratory using state-of-the-art technologies
• Intensive supervision secured by a thesis advisory committee
• Regular exchange with a bioinformatics tandem laboratory to ensure low-threshold interdisciplinary communication
• Regular courses in bioinformatics and wet laboratory techniques as offered by the RTG2344 MeInBio
• Additional “soft skills” courses and networking possibilities with all RTG MeInBio members for scientific exchange
• Yearly funds for conference visits

Candidates should

• Have an excellent recent master’s degree in neuroscience, molecular biology, bioinformatics or related fields
• Be passionate about science and highly motivated
• Have a strong affection to acquire both, biological and informatics knowledge
• Be willing to actively participate in interdisciplinary gatherings and other activities of the MeInBio research training group
• Be fluent in written and spoken English

Please direct further inquiries and your application documents latest by 11 June 2023 ( CV, motivation letter, bachelor’s and master’s certificates and transcript of records, names of two referees) to christine.hacker@anat.uni-freiburg.de