About the position / the research project

Currently we have two positions open in the lab in two different projects: 

• 1. Tissue mechanics in mouse skin development: Using the developing mouse epidermis and primary mouse keratinocyte culture, this project investigates how cells losing the po-larity protein Scribble switch from competitive losers to winners as the skin stratifies. We characterize cell death and proliferation dynamics, remodeling of basement membrane ECM and cell shape, integrin-mediated cell-ECM adhesion and traction forces to test whether tissue mechanics acts as a key fitness-sensing mechanism in scribble-based cell competition. 
  Your work can include: culturing primary mouse keratinocytes, processing embryonic skin tissue, histology, immunofluorescence staining, image analysis, FACS, RNA-sequencing data analysis.
• 2. Tackling aneuploidy: small versus large intestine: In this project we use mouse small and large intestinal organoids to ask how epithelial cells respond to aneuploidy, and why this response appears to differ between intestinal compartments. Using a pharmacological approach to induce controlled chromosome mis-segregation, we characterize the prolif-erative, apoptotic, and cell-competitive responses that determine aneuploid cell fate in a tissue-specific manner.
  Your work can include: i) generating, culturing and genetically modifying mouse SI and LI organoids ii) quantifying cellular dynamics through IF imaging (followed by image analysis) iii) techniques like qPCR/FACS/western blot.
   

Candidates

We are seeking motivated Master's students to join our research team. The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field like Bioinformatics which could be useful to help us implement better image segmentation and analysis pipelines or RNAseq data processing. 
Important to note: all projects in the lab require some degree of mouse handling so please be advised of this before you apply. 
Experience in cell culture techniques (cells/organoids), fluorescence microscopy and image analysis is a plus. An interest in microscopy, quantitative image analysis and molecular biology techniques is expected. We look for a proactive mindset, curiosity about epithelial and developmental biology, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

The position begins with a 8-week rotation (unpaid), with the possibility to continue into the Master's thesis based on successful performance and mutual agreement (this will be paid for the entire duration, 500€ per month).
 

Application

How to apply?

Both positions are available from early September. Send your detailed CV along with a short motivation letter explaining your background and how you could contribute to our projects to stephanie.ellis@univie.ac.at with the subject line “MSc thesis application”. You can also write to this email with any further questions.

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