Applications are invited for a PhD position, starting any
time in 2019, in the group Prof. Michael Hothorn at University of Geneva.
The lab combines structural biology (X-ray protein crystallography, cryo
electron microscopy) and quantitative biochemistry with genetics and cell
biology to dissect novel signal transduction pathways required for plant growth
and development. The successful candidate will investigate how inositol
pyrophosphate signaling molecules involved in nutrient signaling interact with
different plant signaling proteins and protein complexes. She/he will use
state-of-the art molecular biology, protein biochemistry and structural biology
techniques to characterize these interactions in molecular detail.
The candidate should have a first class degree in biochemistry or closely
related subject and ideally prior experience in molecular biology and in
protein biochemistry. A basic knowledge of protein expression and purification,
quantitative biochemistry, and in protein crystallography or cryoEM would be
highly appreciated.
Applications should be sent Prof. Michael Hothorn (michael.hothorn@unige.ch)
as a single PDF document, containing a 2 page CV (including details on the
final grade or the expected grades) and a motivational statement of up to 2
pages. Applicants should also include contact details of 2-3 academic referees.
Informal inquiries can be addressed by email to Prof. Michael Hothorn (michael.hothorn@unige.ch).
The successful candidate will receive an internally funded, full-time PhD
contract for up to 5 years.
References
Zhu J, Lau K, Harmel RK, Puschmann R, Broger L, Dutta AK,
Jessen HJ, Hothorn LA, Fiedler D, Hothorn M (2019) Two bifunctional inositol
pyrophosphate kinases/phosphatases control plant phosphate homeostasis. bioRxiv
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/467076
Hohmann U, Nicolet J, Moretti A, Hothorn LA, Hothorn M (2018) The SERK3
elongated allele defines a role for BIR ectodomains in brassinosteroid
signalling. Nature Plants 4:345-351 doi: 10.1038/s41477-018-0150-9
Hohmann U, Santiago J, Nicolet J, Olsson V, Spiga FM, Hothorn LA, Butenko MA,
Hothorn M (2018) Mechanistic basis for the activation of plant membrane
receptor kinases by SERK-family coreceptors. PNAS 115(13):3488-3493
Wild R†, Gerasimaite R†, Jung JY†, Truffault V, Pavlovic I, Schmidt A, Saiardi
A, Jessen HJ, Poirier Y*, Hothorn M*, Mayer A* (2016) Control of eukaryotic
phosphate homeostasis by inositol polyphosphate sensor domains. Science
352(6288):986-90