Postdoctoral positions in Yeast biology

The applicants should have (i) a recent Ph.D. (the degree obtained no earlier than on 28th of March 2008), (ii) promising publication record and also be able to speak fluent English or Czech. After the initial contact with the group leader Zdena Palkova zdenap@natur.cuni.cz,
please send signed CV and notarized proof of study to: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Department of HR, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic. Please sign the envelope with “POSTDOC II”. Alternatively, the documents can be sent to postdoc2@natur.cuni.cz The CV should contain list of publications (including the impact factor and the number citations) according to Web of Science. The contract will start on 1st of August 2012 or later and will be signed for 30 months. The position is funded by the European Social Fund in the Czech Republic and includes additional funds for the international mobility (up to 6 month). The monthly salary starts at 40 000 CZK.

Description

Two postdoctoral positions are available at the Group of Biology of Yeast Colonies (www.natur.cuni.cz/~zdenap) to study molecular aspects of development and differentiation of yeast colonies. Candidates should have experience in molecular and cellular biology, microbiology and biochemistry. Candidates should have broad methodical knowledge in techniques of yeast cell growth and manipulation, molecular biology techniques (including transcriptomics) and imaging techniques. In addition, candidates should have high motivation and ability to work independently and take responsibility for his/her own project as well as to work in a team.
The Research Group is interested in different aspects of yeast multicellularity including questions related to topics of cell ageing, stress defense, adaptation and longevity that are crucial in any organism, including humans. The research of the group currently follows two main lines: i) Development, differentiation and signaling of yeast colonies as a model of primitive multicellular organism, with the main goal to identify the regulatory networks and signals involved in the phenotypic differentiation between the different types of chronologically aged cells developing within the colony (related to the paper of the group: Mol Cell 46: 436-448, 2012). ii) Development, defense strategies and signaling pathways involved in formation of biofilm colonies of wild yeast, with the main goal to answer the question of how the development and protection mechanisms are regulated (related to the paper of the group: J Cell Biol. 194:679-87, 2011). 
Two postdoc positions available roughly correspond to the two research lines. Candidates are therefore welcomed to present their research preferences (if any) in the application. The Postdoc 1 should contribute to understanding of regulatory pathways that are involved in the formation of the two major cell types of chronologically aged S. cerevisiae colonies, as well as of mechanisms involved in interplay between the two subpopulations. The Postdoc 2 should contribute to understanding of mechanisms and pathways involved in colony differentiation and formation of specialized cells contributing to environmental protection of biofilm colonies (resembling yeast biofilms), such as cells producing low-permeable extracellular matrix and some adhesins. 

Additional information on these two positions and research of the group may be obtained from Zdena Palkova (zdenap@natur.cuni.cz).