Genetics and development of the reptilian skin coloration

The LANE (laboratory of Artificial & Natural Evolution) at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) is seeking a creative and highly motivated PhD student to work on mapping mutations affecting skin colour traits in the corn snake. The working language of the laboratory is English.

In the context of highly multidisciplinary studies investigating the development of skin colour patterns in the corn snake, we are looking for a PhD student with strong interest in molecular developmental biology to assist in mapping corn snake colour and colour pattern traits. Computer skills (especially scripting) are a plus. The successful candidate will interact with a multidisciplinary team of physicists, computer scientists and biologists and will be further trained in state-of-the-art imaging techniques and molecular developmental approaches.

References

Ullate-Agote and Tzika
Characterization of the Leucistic Texas Rat Snake Pantherophis obsoletus
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2021)

Ullate-Agote, Burgelin, Debry, Langrez, Montange, Peraldi, Daraspe, Kaessmann, Milinkovitch and A.C. Tzika.
Genome mapping of a LYST mutation in corn snakes indicates that vertebrate chromatophore vesicles are lysosome-related organelles 
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) (2020)

Qualifications & skills

• Master in biology-related sciences
• Scripting skills are a plus
• Skills in molecular developmental biology and imaging
• Candidates should have a strong inner drive, independence, and willingness to work in a highly interdisciplinary team
• A good level of spoken and written English is essential

Laboratory

The team’s projects are interdisciplinary, and aim at understanding the genetic determinism of skin colour patterns (especially in snakes and lizards) but also skin appendages (scales, hair, and spines) in amniotes. Besides standard molecular biology methods, we use confocal and light-sheet microscopy imaging, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry and deep sequencing.

Environment

The University of Geneva (UNIGE) is highly-renowned for its research and is among the best universities in the world. Geneva is an international city occupying a privileged geographical situation.

Contact

Applicants are invited to send a motivation letter with a short statement of research interests and a CV combined in a single PDF document to: Dr. Athanasia Tzika (athanasia.tzika@unige.ch)

The selection of the successful candidate will be made through the ‘Open Call’ of the Life Sciences PhD School (https://lifesciencesphd.unige.ch – deadline November 15, 2021).