Postdoctoral Positions in Computational & Systems Biology and in Cell & Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre (JIC), UK (2015-2016)

Traditionally biologists study organisms at separate levels, with few studies linking mechanistic aspects of gene function to the ecological niche of the organism and the environment. In this project, we will use a multi-level modelling approach and combine it with molecular biology and ecology to make causal connections between the gene function within an organism and the impact of this gene function on the pathogen distributions within whole countries.

Aster yellows phytoplasmas represent parasites that excel at controlling their plant hosts, dramatically modifying their development and thereby not only affecting the plant-parasite interaction, but also the interactions between the plant insect vector, for example by increasing plant attractiveness to the insects.

Unravelling these complex interactions requires an interdisciplinary approach, in which molecular biology will be combined with the development of a multi-scale modelling framework, to zoom out from the molecular up to the ecological level.

The system will serve as a model for many insect-transmitted parasites that endanger our health and our food supply and are the causal agents of e.g. malaria and yellow fever and numerous plant diseases in economically important crops.

As part of a Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP), we offer two Postdoctoral Scientist positions at the John Innes Centre, one in the Hogenhout lab in Cell & Developmental Biology, and one in the Marée Lab in Computational and Systems Biology.

The 27-months position in the Hogenhout lab (post number 1002878) will lead the dissection of molecular processes involved in the trithrophic interactions of parasite, insects and plants, including how changes in plant development alters plant-insect and plant-parasite interactions. In collaboration, (s)he will assess how changes in these interactions alter parasite transmission dynamics using modelling approaches. The 32-months position in the Marée lab will lead the development of a multi-level model, to unravel the mechanisms by which gene expression impacts development, changes pathogen, vector and host interactions, and modifies spread of the disease over a whole country. By combining input from molecular biology, developmental biology, and ecology, a predictive model will be developed that links all these levels.

Further details:
http://academicpositions.eu