“Wahlbeispiel” / Diploma thesis

 “Origin of the glycoprotein hormone system”
 
We are looking for a highly motivated diploma student to join our molecular evolution team.
 
The project will focus on the characterisation of a newly identified set of hormones that seem to have originated more than 500 million years ago, but whose function remains enigmatic.
In the project, you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with a range of experimental and functional techniques and get to know two different model systems:
 
- The zebrafish, Danio rerio, an established vertebrate system that allows rapid functional analysis of genes and has high relevance for human biology.
- The marine annelid, Platynereis dumerilii, a novel invertebrate model organism characterized by slow molecular evolution (“living fossil”). In this organism, we want to study the invertebrate correlates of the vertebrate hormones.
 
We are a young and enthusiastic team and offer the possibility to learn new techniques and train independent scientific thinking. You should have a background in molecular biology, and an interest in evolution. Prior experience with bioinformatic tools, animal model systems and injection techniques is welcome, but not required. You will receive financial support according to the FWF guidelines.
 
Contact:
Dr. Florian Raible
florian.raible@mfpl.ac.at 
Max F. Perutz Laboratories
Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics
4th floor, Rm. 4.115