Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an important model system in biology which has seen widespread use by humans throughout history for winemaking, brewing, and bakery. Surprisingly, a process as fundamental for its evolution as interstrain ("sexual") mating still remains only partially understood. While this is easily achievable in laboratory settings, it is extremely rare in nature. In fact, we have only recently discovered the first environment where it can occur: within wasp guts. Yeast mating is likely to depend on the peculiar mechanical stresses and chemical environment within wasp guts. To unravel the mechanism leading to yeast mating in this natural system we have set up an interdisciplinary team with expertise in biophysics, microbiology, genetics, chemistry, and computational biology. As part of this wider team, you will be working on understanding the physical forces required to break apart sexually competent cells from the ascus, the dynamics of cell-cell encounter and their relation with the cells’ metabolic states.
To this end, we are looking for a motivated candidate with a strong background in experimental biophysics and/or soft matter (light microscopy, microfluidics, image analysis, coding for data analysis) and the ability to build new setups and improve existing ones.
Previous experience in numerical simulations and mathematical modelling will be a plus.
The project will require active interactions with partners in Italy (U. Turin), USA (Boston Uni) and Australia (U. Sydney) covering a wide range of disciplines. Therefore, it is essential that the candidates be enthusiastic about interdisciplinary collaborations and the opportunities they present.
The position will initially be for 2 years with the possibility of extending it by 1 more year. The PDRA will join the group of Marco Polin (
https://mpolin.com), and will be based within the InFiBio group the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA UIB-CSIC).
Starting date: Jan 2022 (negotiable)
Please contact Marco Polin (
[email protected]) for more informations and to send your application (CV, cover letter and the contacts of at least two referees).
The position will be open until filled by a suitable candidate.
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IMEDEA
IMEDEA is a joint research center of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). It is consistently ranked as one of the best institutes within the Natural Resources area of CSIC. IMEDEA emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to oceanography, global change and ecology research and it provides many opportunities for resources and interactions with researchers in several branches of science, including biology, physics, chemistry, geology, and mathematics. IMEDEA will support the integration of the fellow by providing him/her with excellent facilities to carry out their research.
InFiBio
The research group on Physico-Biological Interaction in the Ocean (InFiBiO
http://imedea.uib-csic.es/infibio/) integrates researchers from various disciplines, who share a common interest in the study of the functioning and dynamics of marine ecosystems. The core of the group is formed by researchers specialised respectively in the study of fluid mechanics, physical and biological oceanography, marine plankton, acoustics, dynamical systems theory and the biophysics of microorganisms. The members of the group belong to both UIB and CSIC and are affiliated to the Department of Marine Ecology (MARE) of the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC). In addition, InFiBiO components lead the Coastal Oceanography, Environmental Microfluidics and Marine Acoustics Laboratories, and coordinate some common IMEDEA infrastructures, such as the Flow Cytometry Service.
The research of this stable nucleus of researchers is supported by postdoctoral researchers, who participate in both the research of the group (including the design and execution of research projects) and the supervision of the work of researchers in training (predoctoral or master students) and a laboratory technician. The group has well-established national and international collaborations including Uni Cambridge, UNAM, Rockefeller, Uni Melbourne, DTU, ESPCI, CEA Grenoble.
