Positions in yeast labs

Postdoctoral grants at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany

Post-doctoral grants are available for ambitious, motivated scientists to join Experimental Evolution Research Group. We can provide excellent research funding and support for projects that build on or complement our existing program. Positions are funded by the Max Planck Society for 2 years initially.

We use Saccharomyces yeasts as model organisms for evolution and ecology. ­ Saccharomyces cerevisiae is probably the best known and most tractable model organism used in biology, but its life outside the laboratory is poorly understood. We study the evolution of various interesting yeast traits using both laboratory experiments and observations of wild yeast. For a primer on yeast evolutionary biology, and to understand the motivation for our research please read Greig, D. & Leu, J-Y. (2009) “Natural history of budding yeast” Curr. Biol. 19:R886-890. For our current work, please see our lab web page:

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The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology offers outstanding infrastructure and facilities, and is attractively located in Northern Germany, in a lake district near the Baltic coast. It is well connected by train to the university towns of Lübeck and Kiel, and Hamburg is the nearest major airport.

Applicants must have a PhD and at least one peer-reviewed publication in the field of evolution, ecology, or yeast genetics. Applicants should prepare a short (<500 word) research proposal, a CV, and contact details for three academic referees. They should combine these into a single PDF file and send it by email to Duncan Greig (d.greig@evolbio.mpg.de). Informal enquiries can be made to any member of the Research Group. Applications will be considered until suitable candidates are found. September 2011

Postdoctoral position

SEPTEMBER 2011: A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Claudio Joazeiro, Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute (San Diego, California).

Research in the laboratory addresses the function of E3 ubiquitin ligases in biology and disease.

The position available is to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of the E3 ligase LISTERIN. We had previously reported on a new mouse model of neurodegeneration caused by mutation of Listerin/Ltn1, a novel E3 (Chu et al. 2009). Homozygous mutant mice exhibit profound early-onset and progressive neurological and motor dysfunction. The focus of our most recent work has been on elucidating this E3’s critical biological role(s) and determining how defects in its function lead to the disease. Listerin/Ltn1 is conserved in all eukaryotes, so we have taken advantage of budding yeast and found that the E3 is ribosome-associated and functions in the quality control of a specific subset of aberrant, nascent proteins (Bengtson & Joazeiro 2010). Currently, we undertake biochemistry, yeast genetics, mammalian tissue culture and genomic approaches to continue our characterization of Listerin/Ltn1, and are positioned to readily test the relevance of the discoveries we make for neurodegeneration using the mouse model. There are opportunities for studies along any of the above research lines, depending on the background and interests of the applicant.

Selected references:

•Bengtson MH & Joazeiro CA. 2010. Role of a ribosome-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase in protein quality control. Nature 467:470-3.

•Deshaies RJ & Joazeiro CA. 2009. RING domain E3 ubiquitin ligases. Annu Rev Biochem. 78:399-434.

•Chu J et al. 2009. A mouse forward genetics screen identifies LISTERIN as an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in neurodegeneration. PNAS 106:2097-103.

The candidate should be independent, hard working, proactive and productive, and should have strong conceptual and experimental background in biochemistry and molecular biology.

Please send CV, a 1-page statement of current and future research interests, and the names and contact information of three references to:

Claudio Joazeiro c/o Miriam Berba (Email: mirberba@scripps.edu) The Scripps Research Institute, CB-163 10550 N Torrey Pines Rd La Jolla, CA 92037 USA

Postdoctoral position - Laboratory of Cell Physics - Strasbourg, France

Postdoctoral position is available in the Laboratory of Cell Physics, ISIS/IGBMC, Strasbourg, France. The project will focus on the dynamics of the cytokinetic ring in the fission yeast S. pombe. The roles of the Rho GTPase, actin polymerisation, and myosin will be studied. The work will involve genetics, cell biology, microscopy, microfabrication and microfluidics; for more information, send a CV and contact information of referees to Dr. Daniel Riveline (riveline@unistra.fr)

Technician Position - Yeast Cell Biology - London UK

A research technician position is available in the Thorpe lab at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London (http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/research/peter-thorpe/). The lab uses the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study fundamental aspects of cell division. The project is focussed upon identifying the molecular pathways that control asymmetric cell division. We employ a combination of yeast genomics approaches and high-throughput fluorescence microscopy to identify the genes responsible for asymmetry in yeast. The work involves supporting the goals of the lab and will include yeast genetics, genomics, fluorescence imaging and image analysis. Preference will be given to candidates with strong computer-based skills including the use of standard office software, DNA sequence analysis, database management and image analysis.

Applications are handled by the RCUK Shared Services Centre; to apply please visit the job board at https://ext.ssc.rcuk.ac.uk and complete an online application form. Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 01793 867003. Please quote reference number IRC23869.

Closing date for applications is 4th July, 2011.

Yeast quantitative genetics post-doctoral positions at Duke University Medical Center

Positions are available for post-docs to work on a recently NIH funded grant “High throughput S. cerevisiae HAM, GWA & QT/QTL architecture resource”. Our understanding of quantitative traits, which includes pharmacogenetic variations in human drug efficacy and side effects, is poor. Improving our understanding of quantitative traits and of pharmacogenetics is aided by tractable model systems, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we develop a novel S. cerevisiae genetic resource population for high throughput haploid association mapping (HAM) and genome wide association (GWA).

We will use the high quality genome sequences of 96 S. cerevisiae strains to generate a novel genetic resource population that we will use to perform high throughput determination of quantitative trait (QT) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) architecture. Start dates are open. Candidates should have recently received their Ph.D. (0 to – at most – 4 years) and should have expertise in yeast genetics/molecular biology and/or quantitative/population genetics. Candidates should email their curriculum vitae (pdf), including the names and contact information for three references, to John McCusker at mccus001@mc.duke.edu.

We are also looking a bioinformatician to join the outstanding team of fungal researchers at Duke University in a position in comparative yeast genomics on an NIH funded project. This project will involve working with the groups of Drs. John McCusker, Fred Dietrich, and Paul Magwene. We are looking for an individual with either a PhD or a MS degree with a strong background in computer science, bioinformatics, and genetics.

The project involves assembly and annotation of complete Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome sequences from next generation sequence data. This project is both computationally challenging, as well as requiring in-depth knowledge of the organism. Good programming skills and project management skills as well bioinformatics skills are necessary.

Candidates should send their CV, including the names and contact information for three references, to Fred Dietrich (fred.dietrich@duke.edu)