Post-doctoral position to study organization, dynamics, and function of transcription condensates

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 postdoc position in transcription regulation, with a focus on the organization, dynamics, and function of transcription condensates.

There is accumulating evidence for a new gene expression paradigm, in which genes and transcription factors cooperate to create specialized transcription bodies. These are dynamic liquids, with quick exchange of molecules between the condensates and the nucleoplasm. While these bodies have gained a lot of interest in recent years, they are generally hard to study because they are small, abundant, and short-lived. We discovered that in zebrafish embryos, transcription begins in two transcription bodies that are large, isolated, and long-lived (PMID: 33649325). These provide us with an excellent system to investigate how transcription bodies form (PMID: 36476751; PMID: 40650976; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.25.605169) and how they regulate the availability of machinery in the nucleus (PMID: 38589534). How the content and dynamics of these condensates contribute to transcription regulation, however, remains unclear.

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 to study organization, dynamics, and function of transcription condensates using advanced microscopy and data analysis methods.

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 PhD degree in any of the life sciences

- Interest in transcription regulation, nuclear organization, and quantitative biology

- Excellent scientific writing, communication, and interpersonal skills

- Expertise in live imaging and analysis are strong assets

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 PhD 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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