MSc Conservation and Biodiversity scholarships

About the award

The Centre for Ecology and Conservation is pleased to offer an annual fees-onlyscholarship to one student from each of Africa, Asia and Latin America.
These are highly competitive awards: students must demonstrate an extremely high academic standard and must show prior commitment to the field of biodiversity conservation. Evidence must be produced as to means of self support during the one year period of study.
All completed applications to the MSc Conservation and Biodiversity received by 2 April 2012 will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted after the deadline and further information will be requested. For further information, including how to apply to the programme, contact cornwall@exeter.ac.uk

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Postdoctoral studies in Biochemistry and Biophysics

At
the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics.

The department conducts a broad spectrum of biomedical research and education within medical biochemistry and biophysics. Presently our department consists of 11 research divisions with a total of approximately 300 employees.

Description of the research project/area of research
The group uses a system structural biology approach to study function and mechanism of enzymes that catalyze protein modifications (ADP-ribose transferases in particular) with emphasis on implications for cancer.

The focus of the current position will be on the biochemical characterization of ADP-ribose transferases. The group applies X-ray crystallography and a wide range of biophysical and biochemical techniques to study protein function. The laboratory has a strong track record in the use of high throughput technologies for protein production, crystallization and structure analysis. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments for protein chemistry, biophysics, crystallography, and high throughput technologies.

The project is initially for one year.

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14 PhD positions in Biology, University of Groningen, NL

Job opportunities in the Systems Biology Centre for Metabolism and Ageing

We are recruiting 14 PhD students/postdocs from various disciplines relevant for Systems Biology, including biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, statistics, mathematics and theoretical biology.

Scientific excellence and enthusiasm will be the most important criteria for selection. Previous experience in Systems Biology or in research related to metabolism and/or ageing research is advantageous but not required.

Each of the 14 positions will be filled by either a postdoc or a PhD student. Postdoc positions will be for 3 years, PhD positions for 4 years. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Medical Centres / Dutch Universities. Successful applicants will be linked to specific projects, based on their own interests and the needs of the Centre.

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Master Scholarships in Systems Biology, Erasmus Mundus, Europe

The Erasmus Mundus master`s programme in Systems Biology (euSYSBIO) is a cooperation between KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden (KTH), Instituto Superior Tecnologico in Portugal (IST) and Aalto University school of Science and Technology in Finland. It is a two-year Master`s programme including compulsory mobilty for the students. Students enter at KTH or Aalto University and continue in the second year at one of the other two institutions.

The euSYSBIO programme offers education of high international standard as well as cultural experience from two different European countries and a double degree from two universities.

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PhD positions at Ghent University, Belgium

PhD positions at Ghent University, Belgium
(http://www.ugent.be/en/news/vacancies/scientific)

1. Scientific researcher (Literature Curator)
<http://www.ugent.be/en/news/vacancies/scientific/ddwlc>
The fellow will work in the Department of Plant Systems Biology
(VIB-Gent University) in a collaborative effort between the groups
Functional Genomics and Systems Biology of Yield, headed by Prof. Pierre
Hilson and Prof. Dirk Inzé, in the framework of the AGRON-OMICS
European Integrated Project (www.agron omics.eu).
You will participate to the curation of primary research results
published in the scientific literature, focusing on the characterization
of plant growth and development processes and emphasizing studies based
on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
The information you collect will be integrated with phenotype and
molecular profiles (transcript, protein, metabolite) with the aim to
build a scaffold to model the coordination of the biological modules
involved in the regulation of plant organ growth.
Last application date: 2010-02-28 17:00
===

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Summer Research for Undergraduate Students in the Biological

Summer 2010 Research Opportunities for Undergraduate Students in the Biological Sciences
Microbe-Host Interactions

University College Cork - Science Foundation of Ireland UREKA Site

A UREKA Site hosted by the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, the Department of Microbiology and the BioSciences Institute, is offering 12 research positions for the 12 weeks from June 14th to September 3rd 2010 in University College Cork, Ireland.

Positions are open to undergraduate students from Ireland and abroad. Undergraduate students currently in the final year of their degree are not eligible to apply. A stipend of €300 per week will be offered, and a contribution towards travel expenses will be given for international students. Student accommodation in Cork can be arranged.

The research theme of the UREKA Site is `Microbe-Host Interactions' and includes topics on interactions between bacterial, fungal cells and viruses with host cells. This UREKA Site will provide other educational events (workshops, industrial site visits) to stimulate an interest in science careers.

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PhD program in International Max Planck Research School

The International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing, a joint graduate program of the Freie Universitaet Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, invites applications for a PhD program.

The PhD program is open for international students holding a Master (or equivalent) degree in bioinformatics, computer science, physics, mathematics, or biology.

The program will start in autumn 2010.
Students who finish their Master by the end of September 2010 are highly welcome to apply 

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PhD in Coral Reef, ZMT Uni-Bremen

Applications are invited for 2 Ph.D. positions at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT) (www.zmt-bremen.de) in Bremen, Germany in the field ecology of coral reefs. These positions are within the framework of the research project FORCE ?Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment? funded by the European Union. FORCE partners an inter-disciplinary team of researchers from Europe and the Caribbean to
enhance the scientific basis for managing coral reefs in an era of rapid climate change and unprecedented human pressure on coastal resources.

1) Role of benthic algae in coral reef recovery processes: Research will involve field and laboratory experiments with coral larvae to study the effects of benthic algae on coral early life stages, including larval behavior, larval settlement and survival, as well as field studies on benthic algal dynamics, and settlement and post-settlement mortality of corals. Outcomes will be incorporated within an ecological model developed by other FORCE partners. The research will involve
interactions with field ecologists, marine botanists and ecosystem modellers, and will be performed in close collaboration with the Marine Botany group at the University of Bremen (www.uni-bremen.de), the Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation CARMABI in Cura?ao (www.carmabi.org), and partners within the FORCE project.

2) Ecology of benthic cyanobacterial mats on coral reefs: Work will involve field surveys to characterize the spatio-temporal dynamics of benthic cyanobacterial blooms in relation to biotic and abiotic parameters in the environment, as well as field and laboratory experiments to investigate the controlling factors of these blooms. The study will involve a variety of experimental and state-of-the- art analytical techniques for community-, functional- and geochemical analyses. The work will be multidisciplinary, involving biology, microbiology and biogeochemistry. The research will be performed in close collaboration with the Microsensor Research group of the Max-Planck-Institut e for Marine Microbiology in Bremen
(www.mpi-bremen.de), the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences MARUM (www.marum.de), the Marine Geology Department at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research in Texel (www.nioz.nl), and partners within the FORCE project.

The field location for both positions will be Cura?ao, Netherlands Antilles. Both appointments are for a 3 year period starting April 2010 (negotiable) .

Requirements: Applicants of any nationality are eligible to apply for these positions. Applicants should hold a Master or Diploma degree in marine biology (position 1) or in biology (position 2). Experience in coral reef ecology, marine botany and scientific diving will be important assets for position 1. A background in microbial ecology with an interest in biogeochemistry and experience in coral reef ecology are desirable for position 2. Diving certification and good skills in English are essential for both positions.

The candidates should be prepared to make long-term stays on Cura?ao, and have good communication skills to integrate efficiently into an interdisciplinary research team.

Applications should be received by February 15th 2010, including a short outline of research interests and experience, a complete CV and names with email addresses and phone numbers of two referees by email in a single pdf-file to the address below. Only short-listed candidates will
be notified. ZMT is an equal opportunity employer. Disabled persons with comparable qualification receive preferential status. Please feel free to get in touch if you have questions.

contact details:
Dr. Maggy Nugues
Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT)
Fahrenheitstr. 6
D-28359 Bremen
Germany
tel: +49-421-2380025, fax: +49-421-2380030
e-mail: maggy.nugues@zmt-bremen.de, skype: maggy.nugues
www.zmt-bremen.de

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Post-Doctoral position Mechanosensitive channels in plants

A 2-years post-doctoral position Mechanosensitive
channels in plants

A 24-month post-doctoral
position in the area of ion channel physiology funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) is available starting April 2010. The host group “Membrane Transporters and Signalling Laboratory” (http://www.isv.cnrs-gif.fr/isv/recherche/hbb/hbb.html)
belong to the "Institut des Sciences du Végétal" (ISV) located on the CNRS campus
of Gif sur Yvette, at 30 km south west of Paris.

Although plants respond to a wide variety of mechanical stimuli, and many mechanosensitive channel activities have been characterized in plant membranes using the patch-clamp method, the molecular nature of mechanoperception in plant systems has remained elusive. We recently showed that the MSL9 and MSL10 proteins relatives of the E. coli MscS (Mechanosensitive channel of Small conductance) might function cooperatively and provide mechanosensitive channel activities at the plasma membrane
of Arabidopsis root cells (Curr. Biol., 18: 730-734, 2008; Plant Signaling & Behavior, 3:726-729,2008).

The first objective of the project is to characterize the electrophysiologica l properties of MSL9,MSL10 and other members of the MSL family (homologous system and bilayer). This part will be done in close collaboration with A. Ghazi 's lab (IBBMC, Orsay). The second objective will be to enlighten the functions of the MSL channels as sensor of vibrations in aerial part of the plant. This will be conducted by a
multidisciplinary approach involving, electrophysiology, molecular biology and modelling in cooperation with other partners of the project. Salary ~ 2000€/month

Applicants should hold a PhD and have a good experience in electrophysiology and, possibly, in molecular biology. A background in plant biology would be an added value but is not required. English but not French is required.

Candidates should send a CV with a brief summary of research experience, a list of publications and the names and addresses of 3 contact information referees to Jean-Marie Frachisse (frachisse@isv. cnrs-gif. fr).
institu t des
sciences du
végétal

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Info Beasiswa S2 Erasmus Mundus 2010 2011

Deadline: January 15, 2010

Beasiswa S2 Erasmus Mundus 2010 2011, Belanda – Netherlands.

The European Master in Animal Breeding and Genetics (EM-ABG) offers high quality training, both in terms of scientific knowledge and didactic skills, provided by six excellent university groups within the EU. The EM-ABG is a response to the need for highly qualified graduates in the internationally operating area of animal breeding and genetics.

Universities Involved
University groups on Animal Breeding and Genetics within Europe have a long tradition of collaboration. The consortium consists of:

* Wageningen University (WU) (the Netherlands) as co-ordinator
* University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
* Christian-Albrechts-Universität (CAU), Kiel, Germany
* Agro ParisTech, France
* Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
* The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Aas, Norway.

The partner universities together form a consortium with a high level of expertise in every core subject in animal breeding and genetics through which EU can provide leadership for the development of a global training program. Moreover, representatives of seven international organisations have joined the International Advisory Board which advices the Consortium on the development of the course.

Fees and Scholarships
The subscription fees are the same, irrespective of the chosen study track

* EU students: € 2,000 per academic year / € 4,000 for the whole master course
* Non-EU students: € 8,000 per academic year / € 16,000 for the whole master course

The subscription fees include the following costs:

* Registration in two universities
* Costs of the orientation period and accommodation of the students during this event
* Allocation of a research grant to every student for direct costs related to thesis research and internship
* Participation in the summer activity at the end of the first year

The subscription fees do not include the living expenses or the travel costs to and within Europe.

Scholarships
The EM-ABG course is supported by the Erasmus Mundus Programme of the European Union:

* Scholarships for third-country (non-EU) selected students are offered. The amount for academic year 2010/2011 is € 21,000 per year which should cover the living costs, insurances, travel costs and subscription fees
* Scholarships for third-country (non-EU) selected scholars are offered as well.
* The scholarship application is included in the application form (application deadline 15th of January 2010).

For the EM-ABG program starting in August 2010, scholarships for EU students are available:

* The consortium has some scholarships for EU students covering fees.
* Some scholarships covering fees and living expenses are available for EU-students that spend one year at Wageningen University.
* European students can make use of existing Erasmus-Socrates exchange programmes.

If you wish to apply for the program and/or a scholarship for EU students, please fill in the EM-ABG application form that can be found on this website and write a motivation letter for the scholarship.
Application deadline EM-ABG program and scholarship for EU students: 1st of May, 2010.

Contact
For more information and application:
EM-ABG Secretary
Animal Breeding and Genomics Center
Wageningen University
PO Box 338
NL 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands

Phone: +31 (0) 317 482 335
Email: emabg@wur.nl
Web: www.emabg.eu

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Post-doc or PhD position Netherlands Metabolomics Center

Deadline: Open

Prednisolone induced metabolite profiles in human and mouse: Crossspecies translation and cross-omics integration.

A 3-years post-doc position or 4 years PhD student position is available within the Netherlands Metabolomics Center, in a joint project between Schering-Plough, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR), TNO Zeist and Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen.



Summary of the project
Prednisolone and other glucocorticoids (GCs) are very potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory drugs that are used in more than 300 different indications. Although very effective, prolonged use at high dose is hampered by side effects of which especially metabolic side effects are evident. These metabolic side effects induced by prednisolone include osteoporosis but also, fat redistribution, induction of insulin-resistance and beta-cell dysfunction, leading to a serious condition that is strongly associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 Diabetes. Despite the fact that prednisolone is a relatively old drug (introduced in the 50’s of the last century) the molecular mechanisms by which its side effects are mediated are largely unknown. To allow for a more rational development of an improved GC it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms by which prednisolone induces side effects.

In this project human healthy volunteers and mice will be treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid prednisolone. In these studies, urine, blood and serum samples will be taken and analyzed by metabolomics, transcriptomics and proteomics techniques. These data will be integrated to:
i) use state of the art techniques to increase our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying side effects of prednisolone
ii) identify biomarkers of glucocorticoid side effects that translate from mouse to human
iii) allow for a more rational development of an improved GC.

Function description
The project is an Associate Project of the research program of the Netherlands Metabolomics Centre (http://www.metabolomicscentre.nl/). Within this centre, Core Projects are aimed at method development whereas Associate Projects apply these methods within research programs.

The project is a collaboration between teams from Schering-Plough in Oss, the Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR) in Leiden, the Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen and TNO in Zeist.

You will be responsible for the statistical and biological analysis of the crossomics data that are produced within the project. Analysis methods to be used include advanced statistical methods for multivariate analysis, data fusion and experimental design; pathway analysis; sequence homology analysis; text mining; integration of experimental data and prior knowledge. The focus will be on generating biological hypotheses by applying existing methods and methods that will be developed within the core projects of the NMC, rather than independently developing new statistical or bioinformatics methods. You will work together with scientists in Oss, Leiden, Zeist and Nijmegen to identify the methods that are most suitable for the goals of the project. You will discuss and where possible initiate desired new methodology development with project partners and with scientists from NMC Core Projects. You will also be responsible for initiating and analyzing additional in-vitro or in-vivo experiments. You will interact with the NMC groups involved in metabolite quantification and identification, and spend some time at the NMC Demonstration and Competence Lab in Leiden where the metabolomics experiments are performed. You will be appointed at the LACDR, and will be stationed bi-locally at Schering-Plough in Oss (approx 60-70% of the time) and at the project partners in Leiden and Zeist (30%-40%).

Profile of the candidate
The ideal candidate has a degree in bioinformatics with a strong proven interest in biology, or alternatively a degree in biology or biochemistry with skills in bioinformatics and/or biostatistics. We are looking for a candidate with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work successfully with the project partners at Oss, Zeist, Leiden and Nijmegen.

More information
For more information you may contact prof. Thomas Hankemeier (Leiden University, principal investigator) or dr. Wynand Alkema (Schering-Plough, project leader). Contact information Thomas Hankemeier: hankemeier@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl, +31 (0)71 527 4226.
Contact information Wynand Alkema: wynand.alkema@spcorp.com, +31 (0)412 663059.

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