BACKGROUND

At the Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway there is available a position as PhD student in bioinformatics. The position is part of the project "Regulatory mechanisms and interactions of non-protein-coding RNAs" funded by the national Functional Genomics Programme (FUGE) in The Research Council of Norway. This is one of three PhD positions in a collaborative project between NTNU and the Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology and the Computational Biology Unit at the University of Bergen (UoB). The project also involves the FUGE Bioinformatics platform at NTNU and UoB.
Non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNA) have been shown to be involved in important aspects of gene regulation, including chromatin silencing, alternative splicing, RNA editing, mRNA cleavage and translational suppression. This project will try to elucidate regulatory mechanisms involving ncRNA molecules, and in particular microRNA (miRNA), by using a combination of bioinformatic and experimental approaches. Zebrafish will be used as a model system for testing predictions from bioinformatic analyses.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The PhD project at NTNU will focus on developing novel computational algorithms for miRNA gene and target prediction as well as for general ncRNA gene discovery. Possible methods include robust machine learning algorithms such as boosting and support vector machines.

REQUIREMENTS

A completed Master's degree or equivalent is required. The degree must be completed no later than spring 2007, and this must be documented either in the application or by forwarding relevant documents no later than July 1, 2007. Candidates without Master's degree at time of application must include certificates showing all completed exams.

PREFERENCES

The successful applicant has good English skills, programming experience, motivation to understand and solve new and exciting problems, and ambitions of doing top international research. Knowledge about basic molecular biology and genetics is a plus.

TERMS

The position is available for 3 years. The successful candidate is expected to apply for admission to the PhD programme at NTNU. Further information about admission to the programme can be found on the NTNU web: http://www.ntnu.no/studieinformasjon/phd/.

LOCALE

Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.

COMPENSATION

PhD positions at the Faculty of Medicine are remunerated according to level 41 (NOK 310.700 per year) to 51 (NOK 369.300 per year) on the Norwegian State salary scale, depending on qualifications. From this 2% is deducted for the State Pension Fund.

HOW TO APPLY

Application with CV, copies of certificates and other relevant documents should be sent to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway. Applications should be marked J.Nr. DMF-03/07.

DEADLINE

Closing date is February 20, 2007.

Full announcement is available at: http://folk.ntnu.no/drablos/ncRNA_PhD_IKM_03_07_Eng.pdf.