Open PhD Position : Functional genomics in Plodia moths
Martin Lab - The George Washington University
The Martin Lab (www.dnacrobatics.com) is seeking a motivated PhD student for expanding transgenesis and genome editing in the Plodia meal moths, and apply these techniques to the study of wing scale development. Plodia moths are a common pest of stored food products, as well as lepidopteran insects that are tailored to the laboratory thanks to their inbreeding resistance, low-maintenance, and ease of genetic manipulation. Both CRISPR and Piggybac modification both work well in our recent experiments, and we think this an extremely powerful system to tackle novel questions in developmental biology.
The specific topic is flexible depending on the personal interest of the candidate. The lab is primarily interested in wing development, and Plodia could be used to search for scale-specific enhancers (evo-devo question : how did lepidopteran scales evolve from insect macrochaetes?), or the characterization of scale-building intracellular processes during development (cell biology question: how does the scale cell cytoskeleton organize precise ultrastructures?). Other possible topics include the specification of the lepidopteran immune system (co-advised by Dr. Ioannis Eleftherianos), or the development of germ cells and gonads. You will join a friendly team in downtown Washington DC, a few blocks away from the National Mall monuments. Funding is available for 5-years. |
Starting Date : January 1st, 2022 or August 20th, 2022 Qualifications : A Master degree in Biology or equivalent, or 2-yr laboratory experience in molecular, cellular, or developmental biology. Experience working with DNA plasmids or confocal microscopy is a bonus. Admissions: Please contact Arnaud Martin by emailing arnaud@gwu.edu with your CV, motivation statement, and contact of two potential referees. If you are selected, you will apply to the PhD program within the Department of Biological Sciences. https://biology.columbian.gwu.edu/phd-biology Official transcripts are required for final admission, and notice the GRE is not required. Students whose English is not the first language are required to demonstrate proficiency with TOEFL scores. The university will sponsor a 5-yr F1 US visa to foreign students upon admission. |