UMC St Radboud
6500 HB Nijmegen
The Netherlands
Postdoc Drosophila models of cognitive brain disorders
The Human Genetics Department Nijmegen is a world-leading place for research into genetic forms of Mental Retardation disorders, where clinical research, disease gene identification and functional studies work hand in hand. Using disease genes as a starting point, the group of Annette Schenck dissects gene function, molecular networks and mechanisms that underlie brain development and cognition, and aims to translate this knowledge back to humans. The group is embedded in the Nijmegen Centre of Molecular Life Sciences (http://www.ncmls.nl) and in the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (http://www.ru.nl/donders).
Job profile
The successful applicant will join a young, motivated and interdisciplinary team. Using the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster as our primary research tool, we aim to change dimensions of research into cognitive brain disorders. The project, funded through the FP7 project GenCoDys, strives to systematically elucidate the function of all fly Mental Retardation gene orthologues in a learning task. More than 300 MR genes are conserved in fly and can be characterised using RNAi and an innovative high-throughput semi-automated system to measure jump-reflex habituation (in collaboration with Dr. Z. Asztalos/Aktogen Ltd (Cambridge), consortium member). The lab, department and FP7 consortium offer great opportunities to follow up on the most interesting phenotypes and genes, e.g. by structural nervous system analysis, by dissection of associated signalling pathways, protein complexes or identification of transcriptional targets, and by the identification of genetic or chemical modifiers that alleviate learning or other defects. The goal of our large-scale research is to provide conceptual advance in our understanding of brain development in health and disease and to significantly contribute to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the large and still growing group of MR disorders.
Requirements
A PhD in a domain of Molecular Life Sciences
•Strong background in Drosophila genetics, ideally with focus on the nervous system and with experience in behavioral analyses.
•Background in molecular, neuro- and cell biology.
•High affinity for fundamental research related to human disease.
•Highly motivated, with excellent interpersonal and communicative skills and with the strong wish to work interdiciplinary.
Organisation unit
Human Genetics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
The Department of Human Genetics provides counseling and diagnostics for patients with inherited and acquired diseases. The research groups perform cutting-edge studies to investigate the relationship between genes and diseases, in particular cancer, deafness, blindness, mental retardation, and congenital abnormalities. State-of-the-art facilities are available for sequence-, genescan-, linkage-, microarray, cell-culture and proteomics analyses.
Terms of employment
•Temporary 3 years
•36 hrs per week
•Salary level 10: maximal € 3,860 gross per month
•Maximum all-in yearly salary on full time basis is € 54,300 gross
Information
Dr. Annette Schenck, research group leader, Associate Professor, a.schenck@antrg.umcn.nl, +31 24 3617431
Closing date September 24th 2010
Application
Preferably on line via: www.umcn.nl
Written applications including CV to:
UMC St Radboud
Mw. B. van Hellemondt, HRM counselor
Huispostcode 833
Concerns vacancy: 010137
Postbus 9101
6500 HB Nijmegen
The Netherlands
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