[Coral-List] postdoc computational biology of sponges

[Jaap Kaandorp]

Postdoc for the project ``Morphogenesis and gene regulatory networks in 
plants and animals: a complex systems modelling approach (MORPHEX)''

The Section Computational Science of the University of Amsterdam has a 
vacancy for a postdoc for the project ``Morphogenesis and gene regulatory 
networks in plants and animals: a complex systems modelling approach 
(MORPHEX)''. The project is an EU-funded project and is Collaboration with 
the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Delegation Rhone Auvergne 
(CNRS) and other laboratories from France, Germany, Sweden and Norway. It is 
a multi-disciplinary research project in which groups from computer science, 
mathematics and developmental biology closely collaborate.

The main objective of the project is to obtain via a modelling and simulation 
approach a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of metabolic 
pathways and gene regulatory networks involved in the morphogenesis of animals 
and plants. We will concentrate on the development of two kind of sponges and 
on the organogenesis of carpel and anthers of a flowering plant. We will 
tackle the complexity involved in these processes by using concepts and tools 
arising from complex systems science. The following problems will be addressed:
provide a general model allowing to describe the underlying complex systems 
at different hiearchical levels in the same formalism; provide tools to 
extract concrete models description from experimental data; provide a way to 
conduct in-silico experiments.


Tasks
The postdoc will focus on modelling early development in sponge before 
settlement/development and growth in the adult sponge, in close collaboration 
with molecular biologists. The major scientific questions here are: i) to find 
causal relations between genes in regulatory  networks and to understand the 
dynamics of these networks, through modelling and optimization techniques.  
ii) To quantitatively reproduce and understand spatial and temporal expression 
patterns in developmental processes in  simulations and to compare these with 
actually observed patterns. iii) To understand the physical coupling between 
an aggregate of cells and the bodyplan formation in regulatory systems.


Requirements
A PhD in scientific computing or computational science, (computational) 
physics, chemistry, biology  or a comparable expertise.  Candidates are also 
expected to have an active interest in life science applications.  A strong 
research record, evidenced by a PhD thesis and papers published in 
peer-reviewed journals Ability to operate in an international research team.  
Fluency in oral and written English.


More information
Further information can be obtained from : Dr Jaap A. Kaandorp, Section 
Computational Science, University of Amsterdam; e-mail: jaapk at science.uva.nl. 
More information (application procedure, deadlines etc.) will soon become 
available on the website http://www.uva.nl/vacatures


-- 
Dr. Jaap A. Kaandorp
Section Computational Science
Faculty of Science
University of Amsterdam
Kruislaan 403
1098 SJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 5257539 / +31 20 5257462
email: jaapk at science.uva.nl
fax: +31 20 5257490
URL: http://www.science.uva.nl/~jaapk/