From listmaster animalgenome.org Mon Jan 28 10:58:33 2019
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From: Michal Vinkler <vinkler1natur.cuni.cz>
Reply-To: michal.vinklernatur.cuni.cz
Postmaster: submission approved by list moderator
To: Members of AnGenMap <angenmapanimalgenome.org>
Subject: PostDoc position: avian evolutionary immunology at
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, EU
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 10:58:34 -0600
Dear colleagues,
The Evolutionary and Ecological Immunology (EEI) group at the Faculty of
Science, Charles University, Prague, is currently advertising a ~year
(extandable) PostDoc position in avian evolutionary immunology with
deadline for applications 17th February 2019:
http://web.natur.cuni.cz/...r-postdocs.
*Diversified cytokine regulation of inflammation in parrots and
passerine birds*
*Available from April/May 2019 to June 2020 (the starting date is
flexible; the contract can be prolonged) *
*Application deadline: 17^th February 2019*
Cytokines are protein signalling molecules that evolve to precisely
regulate immunological processes in vertebrates. Several cytokines
modulate inflammation, a well-known ‘double edged sword’ of immunity
that can clear a pathogen infection as well as kill the host. Being
soluble they have the capacity to systemically affect various tissues,
including other physiological systems involved in self-maintenance and
reproduction. In this project we are interested in describing the effect
of inflammation on brain function and cognition in two related avian
clades – the passerine birds and parrots.
The objective of this PostDoc project is to characterise tissue-specific
cytokine expression changes linked to local and/or systemic inflammation
in the selected taxa of birds. A biodiversity-based approach will be
adopted to reveal interspecific and intraspecific variation in the
selected cytokine genes. The main model species of the research will be
the budgerigar (/Melopsittacus undulatus/), the zebra finch
(/Taeniopygia guttata/), the great tit (/Parus major/) and the house
finch (/Haemorhous mexicanus/). Additional species will be included for
interspecific comparison. Methods such as tissue-specific RNA-seq,
RT-qPCR and proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid through gel-free
quantitative LC-MS/MS will be used (includes wet lab). Focusing on birds
that represent superior models for research in cognition to rodents
(passerines and parrots), this PostDoc project opens new possibilities
for interdisciplinary research of neuroimmunology as well as to
understanding the evolutionary processes forming immune defence in
vertebrates.
*Requirements:*We seek for a researcher with experience in molecular
genetics, evolutionary genetics, immunology and/or zoology - PhD degree
in one of these or related fields and good English language skills (at
least basic).
*Offers:*We offer a Research Fellow position at the Department of
Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University based in Prague, Czech
Republic, EU. This is a full time, ~year contract *starting from
April-May 2019* (flexible), *ending on 31.6. 2020* (flexible, can be
extended based on mutual agreement). *Salary: 26,000-34,000 CZK per
month***#*(320,000 CZK-400,000 ~ €12,500 – 16,000 per annum; * standard
local salary, fully sufficient to cover living costs in Prague; *# *the
final salary will be adjusted at specific check points based on research
productivity). The research fellow will be part of a young and
enthusiastic interdisciplinary and international team
(http://web.natur.cuni.cz/...eei/people) and where
she/he will be supervised by *Dr. Michal Vinkler*
(http://web.natur.cuni.cz/...e/#post-73). We
expect at least two articles being published in international
peer-review journals in the period of two years from the beginning of
the fellowship. Active participation at international scientific
conferences will be encouraged and supported. The research fellow will
also contribute to the supervision of students as needed.
*Application:*Please send (1) CV including a list of publications, (2)
copy of PhD diploma, (3) motivation letter, and (3) contact details for
2–3 referees (references) to Dr. Michal Vinkler
(michal.vinklernatur.cuni.cz) by 17th February 2019.
*About:**Charles University*was founded in 1348, making it one of the
oldest universities in the world. Yet it is also renowned as a modern,
dynamic, cosmopolitan and prestigious institution of higher education.
It is the largest and most renowned Czech university, and it is also the
best-rated Czech university according to international rankings. There
are 17 faculties at the University, plus 3 institutes and 6 other
centres. *The Faculty of Science* was established in 1920 as the fifth
faculty of Charles University. It currently has 29 departments, 3
museums and a Botanical Garden. *The Laboratory for Evolutionary and
Ecological Immunology* (team leader Dr. Michal Vinkler) at the
*Department of Zoology* is oriented at research in animal defence
against infectious diseases, animal immunology, immunogenetics (e.g.,
innate immunity receptors, antimicrobial peptides, to lesser extent
acquired immunity molecules such as MHC) and investigation of
functionally relevant variability in the ecological context. Our
strength is in application of the evolutionary medicine theory and
methodological approaches of evolutionary biology (including tests of
natural selection acting on individual genetic variants involving
predictions of protein functional changes in response to
pathogen-mediated selective pressures). We use non-model avian species
and traditional poultry breeds for our investigation. This project is a
collaborative project with Laboratory of Sensory and Evolutionary
Neurobiology (team leader Dr. Pavel Němec) that performs research in the
fields of comparative vertebrate neuroanatomy and neurobiology. The
research facility is located at the very centre of Prague being ideally
situated for interaction with several other internationally recognised
institutions.
*Links:*For further information see the EEI group web page
(http://web.natur.cuni.cz/...gie/biodiversity/eei), the web of the
Faculty of Science, Charles University
(https://www.natur.cuni.cz/eng?set_language=en) or contact Dr. Michal
Vinkler at michal.vinklernatur.cuni.cz
We are looking forward to receiving your applicationuntil *17^th
February 2019*.
Kind regards,
Michal Vinkler
--
RNDr. Michal Vinkler, PhD
______________________________________________________
Laboratory for Evolutionary and Ecological Immunology
Division of Animal Evolutionary Biology
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science
Charles University
Vinicna 7, CZ 128 44 Praha 2
Czech Republic, EU
e-mail:michal.vinklernatur.cuni.cz
tel: +420221951845
fax: +420221951841
http://web.natur.cuni.cz/...ie/biodiversity/eei/
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