Thinking of doing your PhD in the Life Sciences? The International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz is offering
talented scientists the chance to work on
cutting edge research projects within the open call on “Molecular Mechanisms in Genome Stability & Gene Regulation”. As an IPP PhD student, you will join a
community of exceptional scientists working on diverse topics ranging from how organisms age or how our DNA is repaired, to how epigenetics regulates cellular identity or neural memory.
PhD Position: Characterization of R-loop associated DNA modifications (m/f/d)
Activities and responsibilities
The research group of Christof Niehrs offers the following PhD project:
R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures comprising an RNA hybrid and a displaced single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The exposed ssDNA makes R-loops a hotspot for DNA modifications that can impact R-loop dynamics, gene regulation and genomic stability. Recent studies have revealed that different nucleobases exhibit specific modifications in the context of R-loops, such as cytosine deamination to uracil cytosine oxidation to 5-formylcytosine, or guanosine oxidation to 8-oxoguanine. These modifications are thought to regulate R-loop stability and hence potentially affect genome stability and gene expression. These R-loop-enriched modifications highlight the importance of understanding their regulatory roles and potential as therapeutic targets in diseases linked to genomic instability.
PhD Project: Characterization of R-loop associated DNA modifications
The questions underlying this project are:
- How do specific DNA modifications within R-loops affect their structural stability and dynamics?
- What is the relationship between R-loop-associated DNA modifications and gene regulation?
- How do these modifications contribute to genomic instability and potentially to disease pathogenesis?
Approach: You will employ quantitative DNA-RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing to map the locations and frequencies of specific DNA modifications within R-loops across various genomic contexts. You may test the impact of these modifications on R-loop stability using CRISPR-Cas9 to engineer cell lines with and without specific modifications. You will then observe changes in gene expression, R-loop formation/disruption, and cellular phenotypes. You will conduct assays to measure rates of DNA damage, repair efficacy, and cell viability under conditions promoting R-loop formation and modification. This will help correlate specific modifications with increased genomic instability.
This project will be part of the RTG on R-loop Regulation in Robustness and Resilience (4R).
If you are interested in this project, please select Niehrs (Rloop) as your group preference in the IPP application platform.
Qualification profile
Are you an ambitious scientist looking to push the boundaries of research while interacting with colleagues from multiple disciplines and cultures? Then joining the IPP is your opportunity to give your scientific career a flying start!
All you need is:
- Master or equivalent
- Interactive personality & good command of English
- 2 letters of reference
We offer
- Exciting, interdisciplinary projects in a lively international environment, with English as our working language
- Advanced training in scientific techniques and professional skills
- Access to our state-of-the-art Core Facilities and their technical expertise
- Fully funded positions with financing until the completion of your thesis
- A lively community of more than 200 PhD students from 44 different countries
For more details on the projects offered and how to apply via our online form, please visit
www.imb.de/phd.
The deadline for applications is 24 October 2024. Interviews will take place at IMB in Mainz on 20-22 January 2025.
Starting date: 1 March 2025 - 1 July 2025