UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5'000 employees and 15'500 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and resposibility.
Prof. Richard Benton (www.unil.ch/cig/benton) and Dr Thomas Auer at the Center for Integrative Genomics at UNIL are seeking a PhD student with a strong background and interest in neurobiology, molecular genetics and evolution.
Expected start date in position : 01.01.2020 / to be agreed
Contract length : 1 year, renewable max 4 years with a possible extension.
Activity rate : 100%
Workplace : University of Lausanne, Dorigny
How animals’ extraordinarily diverse behaviours have evolved is unknown. Relating interspecific behavioural differences to anatomical or physiological distinctions in neural circuits, and causal genetic variation, offers a powerful approach to inform how nervous systems develop, function and change.
We have established a new model neurogenetic system, Drosophila sechellia, an island endemic that is closely related to the powerful laboratory model D. melanogaster. While D. sechellia retains global genomic and superficial morphological similarity to its cosmopolitan, generalist cousin, this species has adapted to a unique ecological niche, using Morinda fruit as a sole host for feeding and breeding. This species therefores offers an exceptional experimental system for comparative neuroscience.
The candidate will develop her/his project within the gustatory system of these drosophilid species to determine the molecular and neural mechanisms that explain the distinct feeding behaviours of these animals. The project will involve a combination of molecular genetics, genome engineering, transcriptomics, circuit mapping, neural imaging, and behavioural analysis.
Relevant references:
Auer et al., bioRxiv (2019) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/546507v1
Prieto-Godino et al., Neuron (2017) 93: 661-676
Prieto-Godino et al., Nature (2016) 539: 93-97
Although most of your time will be dedicated to your research project, you will also be involved in undergraduate teaching (e.g., practical class preparation, literature reading classes).
In order to complete our team, we are looking for someone with the following skills :
You will be co-supervised by Dr Thomas Auer and Prof. Richard Benton, in a diverse, dynamic and international research laboratory. The working language is English.
The Center for Integrative Genomics encompasses 15 research labs investigating diverse fields related to functional genomics, and offers state-of-the-art experimental facilities. Beyond the training in the host laboratory, numerous possibilities exist at UNIL for further professional education (e.g., in bioinformatics, imaging, soft-skills, career development).
Informal requests for information can be made by email to: Richard.Benton@unil.ch or Thomas.Auer@unil.ch
To apply you must upload as a single pdf document:
Deadline : 31.01.2020
Only applications through the University of Lausanne job portal will be taken into account. (this website)
UNIL is committed to equal opportunities and diversity.
www.unil.ch/egalite