PhD position at Umeå Plant Science Centre

Umeå University - with its 33,000 students and over 4,000 employees - is an organisation in constant change and development.Umeå University conducts groundbreaking research within several areas - several in which we are among the best in the world - within others regarded as the leaders in Sweden.We are one of Sweden's largest providers of education and offer a broad and attractive range of courses and programmes.Our campus constitutes an inspiring environment for everyone that studies and works here. PhD position at Umeå Plant Science Centre in the Bioimprove programme (4 years) Project title Identification of gene/protein candidates controlling lignin polymerisation.Project description The aim of this PhD project is to identify novel genes/proteins responsible of xylem lignin polymerisation using two complementary biological systems - one simplified (in vitro cell culture) and one integrated (whole hybrid aspen trees).The overall research strategy resides in using first the simplified system to rapidly and specifically identify and characterise lignin polymerisation candidate genes by combining bioinformatic and proteomic approaches.The most interesting candidate genes will then be functionally demonstrated in the in vitro cell culture using stable transgenic cell lines for overexpression and RNAi.The resulting best candidate genes will then be similarly functionally characterised in hybrid aspen by producing stable transgenic poplar trees for overexpression and RNAi.In each case, the impact on lignification will be estimated using both microscopical and biochemical (wood chemistry, saccharification) techniques.See complete advert: www.jobb.umu.se The project is part of a FORMAS funded research programme BioImprove (www.bioimprove.se), within the Recalcitrance of the lignocellulose - focus on lignin research theme which is launched in the beginning of the year 2010.Nine PhD students will be hired within the programme.The PhD position is placed at the department of Plant Physiology, which is part of Umeå Plant Science Centre (www.upsc.se).PhD training will be provided within the Bioimprove programme and the graduate training of UPSC and the KBC centre of Umeå University (www.kbc.umu.se).Applicants must have completed a research degree (e.g., Master's) or university study of 240 hp (4 years) in molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry or equivalent.Previous experience in molecular biology, plant biology, microscopy techniques and/or spectroscopic tools is an advantage.Good social skills, ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with others and good skills in English language are valued.Evaluations will be based on the results of the university courses, quality of master's thesis, personal references, interviews and the letter of intent.A PhD education is 4 years (48 months).During the first two years the student receives a scholarship (Sw: "utbildningsbidrag") and during the last two years the student has a PhD position (Sw: "doktorandanställning").Questions or inquires about the position can be answered by Edouard Pesquet, tel.