Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, but the early molecular events driving selective neuronal vulnerability remain poorly understood.
The Gene regulation of Cell identity Lab led by Dr. Mireya Plass is looking for a talented hybrid (wet-lab & computational) PhD student to work on a Project focused on Understanding the Role of RNAs in Alzheimer's Disease Pathology.
In this project, the selected PhD candidate will combine experimental approaches with computational modeling to investigate how RNA-mediated alterations contribute to early neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease. The student will use iPSC-derived models and single-cell omics approaches (scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, scCUT&Tag) to identify and characterize novel molecular mechanisms driving neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease.
He/she will integrate the single-cell omics dataset generated to infer alterations in gene regulatory networks and cell-cell communication pathways responsible for the neurodegeneration. These predictions will be functionally validated using perturbation experiments, imaging and molecular biology approaches and compared to existing postmortem data from AD brains.
This work will provide fundamental insights into the early molecular mechanisms driving neuronal loss in AD and will help identify therapeutic targets upstream of neurodegeneration. The project will provide the candidate with specialized training in cutting-edge computational and experimental methods including single-cell omics, iPSC-derived neural models and computational modelling.
What We Offer
- A 4-year, fully funded PhD position (FPI grant)
- An on-site position at IDIBELL/UB, working within a dynamic and interdisciplinary research group
- Training in cutting-edge single-cell multi-omics and computational biology techniques combined with hands-on experience in iPSC-based functional neuronal models
- Access to an active international research network through the Plass Lab (www.plasslab.com)
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following documents to mplass@ub.edu:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Academic transcripts
- Motivation letter