Deadline přihlášek: 22. 4. 2025.

Pro podrobnosti je možno neformálně kontaktovat naši absolventku na místě Marii Šulcovou.

How Regulatory DNA and Epigenetics Rewired Human Brain Development

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our project on understanding how human-specific genetic and epigenetic changes have shaped the development and function of our brains. The project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms by which non-coding regulatory elements influence brain development, evolution and contributes to higher cognitive abilities. We will employ cutting-edge single-cell and spatial epigenomic technologies, combined with in vitro brain organoid models of both human and non-human primates, to identify and functionally characterize species-specific regulatory elements. By perturbing these candidate elements through CRISPR-based genome editing, we seek to reveal their impact on neuronal development, connectivity, and activity. This research has implications for understanding what makes the human brain unique, as well as for shedding light on neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.

The ideal candidate should have background in molecular and cellular biology with hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Cell culture – particularly human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells.
• Brain organoids or organotypic slice cultures.
• Wet-lab molecular/cell biology techniques (e.g., DNA/RNA/protein work, tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization).
• Previous exposure to epigenetics, molecular neuroscience, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, bioinformatics, or single-cell profiling (scRNA-seq/scATAC-seq) would be an advantage.
• Proactive approach with the ability to drive a project forward from conceptualization and experiment planning to data interpretation and reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to interpret data and contribute ideas to advance the project.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills with an aptitude for collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
• A driven, self-motivated mindset and good time management abilities, eager to learn and tackle new challenges.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.