Obesity and metabolic diseases are rapidly increasing problems in modern societies. One of the key factors underlying these problems is nutrition and its interaction with genetic factors. We are looking for a motivated PhD student to join our international and enthusiastic research group to work on a project aiming to understand gene regulation in response to dietary sugars. Our research is based on a combination a large selection of experimental strategies, including Drosophila genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, cell and molecular biology, as well as metabolomics. Therefore, this project offers an excellent training opportunity for a candidate interested in learning a strong set of research skills. Our group works in the Viikki campus of the University of Helsinki, we are part of the Department of Biosciences as well as the Institute of Biotechnology, which offer highly supportive and interactive research environments as well as top-end research instrumentation.

A successful candidate is expected to have a degree (MSc or similar) in a relevant field of biosciences and to be able to demonstrate excellent skills in experimental laboratory work, ability for analytical thinking, good communication skills as well as strong motivation for PhD studies.

The project start date is negotiable, but an optimal start date is on August-September 2015. The salary is based on the salary system for Finnish universities, based on a consists of a job-specific pay component and a performance-based pay component.

Please send your application by Friday 12. 6. to Ville Hietakangas by

email: ville.hietakangas@helsinki.fimailto:ville.hietakangas@helsinki.fi with a title "PhD student application"

Application should include:

-Brief introduction of your background and interests -CV -Contact details of two reference persons

More information about our research:

http://www.biocenter.helsinki.fi/bi/hietakangas/index.html

Recent publications from our lab:

Bartok O*, Teesalu M*, Ashwall-Fluss R, Pandey V, Hanan M, Rovenko BM, Poukkula M, Havula E, Moussaieff A, Vodala S, Nahmias Y, Kadener S & Hietakangas V. 2015. The transcription factor Cabut coordinates energy metabolism and the circadian clock in response to sugar sensing. The EMBO Journal embj.201591385 * Equal contribution.

Hasygar K, Hietakangas V. 2014. p53- and ERK7-dependent ribosome surveillance response regulates Drosophila insulin-like peptide secretion. PLoS Genet. 10(11):e1004764.

Havula E, Teesalu M, Hyötyläinen T, Seppälä H, Hasygar K, Auvinen P, Orešič M, Sandmann T & Hietakangas V. 2013. Mondo/ChREBP-Mlx-regulated transcriptional network is essential for dietary sugar tolerance in Drosophila. PLoS Genetics 9:e1003438.

Havula E, Hietakangas V. 2012. Glucose sensing by ChREBP/MondoA-Mlx transcription factors. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 23:640-7.