We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic and committed student with genuine interest in research for a project that aims to understand the mechanisms regulating vascular remodeling in adipose tissue and its effect on obesity and insulin resistance in preclinical diabetes/metabolic syndrome models.

The applicant should have some background in molecular and cell biology, and physiology. Previous wet lab experience is also desired. Masters thesis students are welcomed too.

The research group is coordinated by Dr. Marius Robciuc and Professor Kari Alitalo, who is the program leader and the director of Wihuri Research Institute

Previous results published from this project:

VEGFB/VEGFR1-Induced Expansion of Adipose Vasculature Counteracts Obesity and Related Metabolic Complications.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27076080 Robciuc MR, Kivelä R, Williams IM, de Boer JF, van Dijk TH, Elamaa H, Tigistu-Sahle F, Molotkov D, Leppänen VM, Käkelä R, Eklund L, Wasserman DH, Groen AK, Alitalo K. Cell Metab. 2016

VEGF-C is required for intestinal lymphatic vessel maintenance and lipid absorption.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26459520 Nurmi H, Saharinen P, Zarkada G, Zheng W, Robciuc MR, Alitalo K. EMBO Mol Med. 2015

Relevant review: Lymphatic System in Cardiovascular Medicine.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26846644 Aspelund A, Robciuc MR, Karaman S, Makinen T, Alitalo K. Circ Res. 2016

APPLICATION PROCESS: If you are interested, please send your application including CV, motivation letter, transcript of study records and names and contact information of one to two people willing to provide a reference, all in a single pdf-document, to: marius.robciuc@helsinki.fimailto:marius.robciuc@helsinki.fi.

Use as email subject: "PhD position". Please also attach or provide link to a short video (maximum 2 minutes), in which you introduce yourself and explain why you want to do research.