BACKGROUND

The Ben Brown (http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/staff/profile.aspx?ReferenceId=120092&Name=professor-james-bentley-brown) and Leda Mirbahai (http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/staff/profile.aspx?ReferenceId=104831&Name=dr-leda-mirbahai) Research Groups in the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham, UK are currently recruiting Ph.D. students to join the lab by early 2017. The lab is generally interested in understanding the evolution of epigenetics mechanisms and their role in regulation of complex traits, such as ageing and phenotypic plasticity in the invertebrate model organism Daphnia. Majority of the research in the group is aimed at 1) investigating functional evolution of epigenetic factors, 2) linking epialleles to specific phenotypic endpoints and 2) achieving a better understanding of the inheritance of epigenetic markers. The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting laboratory experiments to generate the samples need to investigate the association between epigenetic drift, as a function of age, (at both DNA methylation and histone modification levels), alternative splicing and alter sensitively to environmental cues. The project will involve working with Daphnia spp., generating Chip-seq and WGBS libraries, analysing HTS data as well as generating a database of epigenetic marks for Daphnia.

REQUIREMENTS

The candidate must have substantial prior experience in bioinformatics and some experience in computational biology. A master's in bioinformatics or computer sciences with an interest or experience in epigenetics is desirable. The candidate must have strong computational skills and prior experience with Unix/Linux command line environments, SQL, as well as either Perl, Python, Ruby or a comparable scripting language. The applicant must have prior experience with machine learning methods. NGS analysis and large-scale data mining is considered a plus. The applicant must be a good communicator and strong in written as well as spoken English.

TERMS

The Ph.D. position is funded for 4-years and is open to UK and EU students. The candidate can start as soon as possible but no later than January/February 2017.

LOCALE

School of Bioscience, University of Birmingham, UK
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please first email Leda Mirbahai (l.mirbahai[at]bham.ac.uk) a single PDF containing (1) a statement of interest, (2) a CV highlighting relevant skills, and (3) contact information for three references as soon as possible. Please indicate "Epigenetic PhD position" in your subject line.

DEADLINE

31 September 2016. The start date is flexible but ideally the candidate should be available to start no later than 1st February 2017.