PhD position in bioinformatics and systems biology available at the research group of Systems Immunology at Medicum (University of Helsinki)

A PhD student position is available at the research group of systems immunology of the University of Helsinki to join several projects (EU, Finnish Academy, Erkko foundation and Finnish Working Environment Fund) in the area of systems biology and bioinformatics related to the research fields of allergy and nanosafety.

We study the gene-environment interactions and specifically the host-microbiome interface in skin and lung physiopathology (1,2), and explore the complex network of cellular and molecular interactions involved in inflammatory disease pathogenesis. Moreover, we assess the immunomodulatory effects of engineered nanomaterials (3). In predictive nanotoxicology, the in vitro and in vivo assessment of the complex molecular effects of nanoparticles is used to characterize the mode of action of nanoparticles and to establish computational predictive models of toxicity (4). We extensively use omics technologies and systems biology approaches In all our projects.

The successful candidate has a background in statistics, bioinformatics and systems biology. Advanced use of R or equivalent programming language is also required. The PhD work will essentially consist of developing computational predictive models Inferred from the integration and analysis of large multi-layer omics data sets in close collaboration with other bioinformaticians, as well as immunologists, systems biologists and clinical experts.

The student will work mainly at the systems immunology group located in the Meilahti campus under the supervision of prof. Harri Alenius, and co-supervised by Dr. Dario Greco, leader of the systems nanosafety research group at the Institute of Biotechnology located in the Viikki campus. Funding of the PhD project is already secured from several projects until the end of 2017.

For more information please contact Harri Alenius (Harri.Alenius@Helsinki.Fimailto:Harri.Alenius@Helsinki.Fi; Tel +358 50 4489526 / +358 29 4126460) or Dario Greco (Dario.Greco@Helsinki.Fimailto:Dario.Greco@Helsinki.Fi ).

References

1. Hanski I, et al. Environmental biodiversity, human microbiota, and allergy are interrelated. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:8334-9.

2. Fyhrquist N, et al. Acinetobacter species in the skin microbiota protect against allergic sensitization and inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014; 134:1301-9 e11.

3. Rydman EM,et al. Inhalation of rod-like carbon nanotubes causes unconventional allergic airway inflammation. Part Fibre Toxicol 2014; 11:48.

4. Fortino V, et al.. A robust and accurate method for feature selection and prioritization from multi-class OMICs data. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107801.