Two PhD positions

To the project "How to trees know it is autumn?" The work will be carried out at Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Dept.One position should be filled as soon as possible, one can be filled now or later.Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) is a Centre of Excellence in plant and forest biotechnology, where ca 40 research groups work with various aspects of plant biology, including cell and molecular biology, genetics, genomics, developmental biology, physiology and ecophysiology.For more information, visit www.upsc.se.Project description: Trees in temperate areas, like aspen (Populus tremula) undergo seasonal changes in growth and development, and the most spectacular is perhaps the process of autumn senescence, when leaves change colour from green to yellow and or red.Senescence and other processes occurring in the fall - like growth arrest and hardiness development - is triggered by the shortening daylength but it is not known how the light signal is perceived and translated into the large-scale degradation of the leaf proteins that occur.We also address the influence of nitrogen and carbon status of the senescence process in aspen, as well as the gene expression changes that occur during senescence.The ultimate goal is to identify the genes that regulate the process and this work has also a wider relevance, since it provides a template on how it is possible to find the genes regulating important traits in natural tree populations, i e what makes tree individuals different.This aspect of the work involves forward and reverse genetic methods like association mapping, artificial microRNAs and work on epigenetics.A relevant background for the position is a degree in biology, molecular biology or biotechnology.The recruitment procedure will follow the Higher Education Ordinance (Högskoleförordningen chapters 5 and 7).Prerequisites include 240 ECTS credits of higher education studies of which 60 should be on an advanced level (Master level).Education should include a 30 ECTS credits independent project in an area relevant for the project.The successful applicant should have good ability to write and speak in English, creativity, power of initiative, independence and ability to collaborate.Applications will be discarded or, if the applicant so wishes, returned two years after the position has been filled.Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format.If you are applying to several positions with diferent reference numbers, you must submit a separate application for each position. We look forward to receiving your application!