[Taxacom] Graduate Position: University of St Andrews, Cyanobacterial Genomics

[Daniel Barker]

Dear Taxacom,

We are seeking applicants for a PhD position at the University of St
Andrews, Scotland.

EVOLUTION AND FUNCTION OF CYANOBACTERIAL GENES AND GENOMES

Supervisors:
Dr Daniel Barker, University of St Andrews, and Professor Geoffrey Codd, 
University of Dundee.

This project will improve knowledge of the evolution, metabolism, 
ecotoxicological status and biotechnological potential of cyanobacteria 
by the development and application of bioinformatics algorithms. 
Cyanobacteria are a metabolically diverse group of photosynthetic 
prokaryotes of global distribution. They play a crucial role in 
biogeochemical cycles (oxygen, carbon, nitrogen), produce toxins which 
present major health hazards to humans and animals, yet also contain 
metabolites with therapeutic and biotechnological applications, 
including biofuels. At least 48 cyanobacterial genomes have been 
sequenced. However, the function of many of the genes in their genomes 
remains unknown. This represents a major gap in biological knowledge 
which would be difficult to fill by traditional approaches. We have 
developed a comparative, bioinformatics procedure to delimit groups of 
genes which are functionally linked, on the basis of correlated gain and 
loss of those genes from genomes. This must be vastly improved, to also 
model gene-phenotype and gene-environment interactions, and applied to 
cyanobacteria. The project would involve research in computational 
comparative genomics. Results will be of interest to researchers in 
bioinformatics, environmental and health sciences and in biotechnology.

Informal enquiries to Daniel Barker, db60 at st-andrews.ac.uk

For further details, including how to apply, please see:

http://biology.st-and.ac.uk/projectProfile.aspx?psr=433&pid=168

IMPORTANT NOTE ON FUNDING

A successful candidate would receive funding (covering fees and stipend) 
from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Marine Alliance 
for Science & Technology Scotland. Funding is ONLY possible for 
candiates who meet NERC's criteria:

http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/studentships/studentbook2008.pdf

In particular, please note the section "Residence" (pp. 3-6). If you do 
not meet these criteria, please only apply for this position if you have 
already obtained funding yourself.

Best regards,

Daniel

-- 
Daniel Barker
http://bio.st-andrews.ac.uk/staff/db60.htm
The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland :
No SC013532