PhD student position to study the function of HOT regions in transcription regulation

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

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Presentation

The Vastenhouwlab group ( https://www.vastenhouwlab.org ) at the Center for Integrative Genomics at the University of Lausanne invites applications for a PhD student position in transcription regulation, with a focus on HOT regions, nuclear organization, and transcription condensates.

HOT regions are genomic regions with an unusually high occupancy of transcription factors. They have been suggested to affect gene expression but how they do so is not clear. We have recently identified HOT regions in the zebrafish genome that are located on different chromosomes yet come together in nuclear space. This provides an interesting clue to the function of HOT regions as their clustering might give rise to the accumulation of machinery in condensates and as such either provide a source of transcription factors, or conversely, titrate away transcription factors from genes elsewhere in the nucleus. This has important implications in the context of gene regulation, especially when embryos transition from a transcriptionally silent to a transcriptionally active state.

Job information

- Expected start date: as soon as possible

- Contract length: 1 year, renewable

- Activity rate: 100%

- Workplace: University of Lausanne, Dorigny campus

Your responsibilities

The successful candidate will work on a project aimed at deciphering how HOT regions impact transcription. A combination of genomics and imaging approaches will be used to address this question.

The candidate will also have the opportunity to gain teaching and mentoring experience by contributing to undergraduate and graduate courses and supervising student research projects.

Your qualifications

- A Master’s degree in any of the life sciences

- Interest in transcription regulation, nuclear organization, quantitative biology

- Excellent scientific writing, communication, and interpersonal skills

- Experience with genomics and imaging approaches are a plus

What the position offers you

You will be supervised by Prof. Nadine Vastenhouw, in a diverse, dynamic, and international research laboratory. You will work on your independent project but there is ample intellectual and technical expertise in the lab to make sure you are well-supported. The working language is English.

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Contact for further information

For further information, please contact E-Mail schreiben

Your application

Deadline: 15.04.26

Please submit your full application as a single PDF document comprising:

- A cover letter in which you describe your research interests and experience, and clearly explain why you are interested in this particular position

- A CV

- A copy of your Master’s degree certificate

- Contact details for 2 or more referees

Only applications through this website will be considered.

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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