Doctoral (PhD) Position in Computational Biology (100%, funded) Impact of aberrant mRNA metabolism in early ALS pathogenesis W/M

About Idiap

The successful candidate will join the vibrant Idiap research community of experts in artificial intelligence (AI). Idiap is a research institute affiliated with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Geneva University that offers an interactive environment in which you can broaden your horizon, develop new ideas and your independence, and grow as a scientist and a professional. The student will be a member of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.

He will belong to the Lemanic Doctoral School of Neurosciences and to the PhD training network of the SIB. Idiap is located in Valais in the heart of the Alps (https://www.valais.ch/en/about...) with nature on its doorstep and urban centers easily accessible thanks to an established transport network, thus offering an ideal environment for pursuing top research while providing a superior quality of life and the perfect work-life balance. From family-run SMEs to large international groups, as well as from start-ups to innovative projects, Valais’s flourishing economy offers stimulating career prospects.

Job description

The Genomics and Health Informatics group at the Idiap Research Institute in Martigny (Switzerland) is looking for a PhD student to join a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation on “Investigating the role of cytoplasmic intronic sequences in ALS pathogenesis”. The student will work together with a postdoc. Additional funding for consumables, computing, and to attend international conferences is available.

About the project
We are seeking a highly motivated, ambitious and talented candidate to join our efforts in identifying early mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders. The doctoral student will develop computational, machine learning and statistical methods to high
content transcriptomic data and combine these with large scale microscopy data to investigate the impact of aberrant mRNA metabolism (alternative splicing and polyadenylation) on the developmental trajectories of motor neurons and astrocytes during early ALS pathogenesis. Experimental validation of key findings (protein fluorescent microscopy, smFISH, etc) will be performed in the Human Stem Cells and Neurodegeneration Laboratory (Prof. Rickie Patani) from the Francis Crick Institute (London) through which we have access to high-quality data (iCLIP, transcriptomic, cellular imaging).

About our group
The Genomics and Health Informatics group develops computational models and statistical methods to interpret large-scale longitudinal data (e.g. transcriptomics, clinical, cellular imaging) to address biological questions related to human disorders. We seek to produce top notch science and foster the development of outstanding, independent scientists through nurturing mentorship and interdisciplinary, collaborative efforts. The group is an associated member of the National Center of Competence and Research (NCCR) RNA and Disease. The group is also part of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, offering various training possibilities as well as networking opportunities within the Swiss bioinformatics community.

For more information about our group :
https://www.idiap.ch/en/scient...


How to apply
Inquiries about the position can be addressed to Dr. Raphaëlle Luisier ( rluisier@idiap.ch ). Interested and qualified individuals should send a current CV, a 1-page Statement of Research Interests and Career Goals, and contact information for 3 references via the website. Review of applications will start immediately. Please note that only online applications will be considered.

Sought profil

The candidate qualifications

● Master’s degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field.

● Strong mathematical and computational skills.

● Good level in at least one programming language.

● Proactivity and excellent analytical, communication, and organizational skills.

● Ability to work both independently and within collaborative teams productively

● Candidates do not necessarily have to have a biological background but should have

a strong desire to directly work with experimental biologists.

● Good knowledge of English.

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