[Socbin] : Fwd: Doctoral Candidate in Systems Biochemistry

[Ines Thiele]

FYI
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Doctoral Candidate in Systems Biochemistry

The University of Luxembourg is looking for the newly established
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) for a Doctoral Candidate
(PhD student) in Systems Biochemistry

Ref.I1C-DIR-COM-11ICOO
Fixed-term contract 3 years, 40h/week renewable once
Student and Employee status

The PhD student will be a member of the highly interdisciplinary research
centre, integrating experimental biological and computational biology
approaches in order to develop the foundation of a future predictive,
preventive and personalised medicine.

Area:
Biochemistry/Medical Biochemistry/Neurochemistry.

Mission:
Experimental determination of metabolic flux and concentration is a
critical tool for developing understanding of the physiological state of a
cell. Using isotopically labeled substrates with different labeling
patterns, experimental techniques are used to measure the mass isotopomer
distributions of select metabolites. Estimation of metabolic flux is by
integration of mass isotopomer distributions with an isotopomer (isotope
isomer) mapping model, that traces the path of each isotopomer through a
metabolic network. Recently an algorithm for
automated generation of draft genome-scale isotopomer mapping models has
been develope. The latest reconstruction of human metabolism (Recon 2.0) is
a stoichiometric model of a generic human cell. It is necessary to tailor
Recon 2.0 to represent the metabolic capabilities of a particular cell type
of interest. Extensive manual curation of neurochemical experimental data
is necessary to tailor Recon 2.0 to accurately represent the metabolism of
a normal neuron. A tailored stoichiometric model of a dopaminergic neuron,
that also represents
atom transitions for each reaction, would be an invaluable resource for
estimation of metabolic flux and concentration in cultured dopaminergic
cell lines.

Tasks:
To address the aforementioned challenges, the PhD project objectives are:
Reconstruction of a tailored stoichiometric model of a normal dopaminergic
neuron by literature review.Manual curation of an
existing algorithmically created draft isotopomer mapping model of Recon
2.0 to retain only biochemically realistic atom transitions. Biological
interpretation of whole cell metabolic flux and concentration data in
normal and diseased dopaminergic neuronal cells toward a deeper
understanding of Parkinsonism pathogenesis.

Profile:
A broad and deep knowledge of metabolic biochemistry e.g. M.Sc. level
Medical Biochemist, Biochemist, Neurochemist. Excellent English writing and
speaking skills.

Offer:
Contribution to an international, interdisciplinary project: Dr. Karsten
Hiller, LCSB, Dr. Ronan Fleming, Center for Systems Biology, University of
Iceland (CSBUI).International interdisciplinary training: In the first
year, a 6 month training period in metabolic network reconstruction &
modeling at the CSBUI. The University of Luxembourg offers competitive
salaries and is an equal opportunity employer.

Application:
All applications (in English) should contain the following documents:
A detailed curriculum vitaeCover letter mentioning the reference number.
List of publications.
Description of past research experience and future interests.
Name and addresses of three referees

Please send your electronic applications until the 23rd Dec 2011 to the
following address:   katrin.effenberger at uni.lu
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