----- Edelleenvälitetty viesti lähettäjältä anita.tienhaara@helsinki.fi ----- Päiväys: Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:08:04 +0200 Lähettäjä: Anita Tienhaara anita.tienhaara@helsinki.fi Vastausosoite: anita.tienhaara@helsinki.fi Otsikko: [Bco] PhD student position in Cell Biology and Biophysics, London Vastaanottaja: finbionet finbionet@helisci.fi

*Biology and Biophysics of the submembranous actin cortex*

We are inviting applications for a 3-year interdisciplinary studentship in the general area of Cell Biology and Biophysics to commence from September 2013. The student will mainly be physically based within the new state-of-the-art London Centre for Nanotechnology on UCL?s Bloomsbury campus in Central London. The London Centre for Nanotechnology has significant cell biology and cell biophysics infrastructure. Strong collaborative links with the Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology at UCL will make this project truly multi-disciplinary.

The proposed research project aims at exploring the structure and mechanics of the submembranous actin cortex using Atomic Force Microscopy, live cell imaging, scanning electron microscopy, and molecular cell biology techniques.

The cell cortex is a network of actin, myosin and associated proteins that underlies the plasma membrane and determines the shape of animal cells. Despite the physiological importance of the actin cortex, surprisingly little is known about its formation and subsequent regulation. We propose to use blebs, a type of cell protrusion present during cytokinesis and motility in 3D environments, as a tool to study cortex structure, dynamics, and composition. Blebs form and retract in minutes, are originally devoid of a cortex, but assemble one prior to retraction by myosin motors. The goal of this project is to examine the relation between cortex ultrastructure, molecular composition and physical properties during the cell cycle building on recent proteomic results.

We are in search of a student to work towards the goals of this project. Candidates should have a high grade point average Bachelor?s degree or equivalent in subjects such as Molecular Cell Biology, Biophysics, Physics, or Engineering. This project involves a significant experimental component and previous experimental research experience relevant to the research project is desirable.

The stipend is £19000/pa and tuition fees will be covered. Funding is available to UK and EEA candidates. This project is a collaboration with partners in UCL, Paris (France), and Montreal (Canada) and will necessitate some international travel.

Suitably qualified candidates interested in performing cutting edge research in a dynamic multidisciplinary scientific environment in order to understand cortex mechanics from the bottom-up should send their CV to Dr Guillaume Charras (g.charras@ucl.ac.uk, http://www.findaphd.com/search/EmailEnquiry.aspx?fapjid=44229&LID=952&am...).

*Funding Notes:* The stipend is £19000/pa and tuition fees will be covered. Funding is available to UK and EEA candidates.

*References:* Fritzsche M, Lewalle A, Duke T, Kruse K, Charras G. ?Analysis of turnover of the submembranous actin cortex?, Mol Biol Cell, in press, (2013).

Charras G.T. and Paluch E. ?Blebs lead the way: how to migrate without lamellipodia?, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 9(9), 730-6, (2008).

Charras G.T., Coughlin M., Mitchison T.J., and Mahadevan L. ?Life and Times of a Cellular Bleb?, Biophysical Journal, 94, 1836-1853 (2008).

Charras G.T., Hu C.-K., Coughlin M., and Mitchison T.J., ?Re-assembly of a contractile actin cortex in cell blebs?, Journal of Cell Biology, 175(3), 477-490 (2006).