Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Nanoscience programme. The position is available from February 2025 or later.
Title:
Cracking the code of FoxO3 transcription regulation by phosphorylation
Research area and project description:
Are you excited to contribute to the molecular understanding of the human longevity factor FoxO3? Then apply to a 3-year PhD student position in the Viennet lab at iNANO.
The project aims at deciphering the mechanisms underlying the regulation of FoxO3 by phosphorylation. FoxO3 is a transcription factor that is critical to maintain the well-being of cells undergoing stress and aging. As such, it must bind specific sites on DNA to activate to transcription of certain genes in response to stress-induced signals. These signals are conveyed by phosphorylation of cascades of proteins, and ultimately of FoxO3 itself. However, the outcome of phosphorylation on FoxO3 molecular behaviour is unknown.
In the 3-year PhD project, you will investigate how phosphorylation modulates FoxO3 binding to DNA in terms of affinity and specificity. You will prepare specifically phosphorylated samples of FoxO3, and perform structural, biophysical and cell biology experiments. Structural characterization will be done using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). If your interests align, you can also contribute to the development of novel NMR methods.
It is critical that you are motivated to perform wet lab work as this will be most of the workload. The project is highly interdisciplinary and you will implement bacterial recombinant expression, isotope labelling, protein purification, chemical biology, enzymology, biophysical interaction assays, mammalian cell culture and of course NMR.
You will work closely with international collaborators, including through a research stay abroad at IBS Grenoble or Brown University (depending on your interests). Moreover, you will have the opportunity to present your research at local and international conferences.
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. When - as here - you apply for a specific project, please simply copy the project description above, and upload it as a PDF in the application. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants should possess a relevant Master’s degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, nanoscience or related fields. Previous experience in recombinant expression or protein purification is a plus. Additionally, strong English communication skills, both oral and written, are required.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact: Assistant Professor Thibault Viennet, thibault@chem.au.dk
How to apply:
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide. Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying.
When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ (Note, the online application system opens 1 September 2024)
Please note:
At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.
