PhD Positions
AGILE - Advanced Training for Next Generation Scientists in Spatio-Temporal Imaging of Plant Cells.
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We will be looking for a PhD candidate in the spring of 2026, with a starting date around September 2026, although there is flexibility there.
You will work within the Marie Curie Doctoral Network AGILE, which is a consortium from scientists all over Europe, dedicated to train the next generation of plant cell biology microscopists. Benefits of the Marie Curie DN framework are great collaboration and networking opportunities, excellent training for academia and industry, and a good salary.
About the project
Title of project: Quantifying the light and Temperature driven association of phyB photobodies with chromatin
Phytochrome B photobodies (phyB PBs) are phase-separated dynamic compartments that form or dissipate in response to light and temperature changes. PhyB PBs regulate transcription, however their functional association with target genes has never been demonstrated. Therefore, we want to use SABER-FISH coupled to N-STORM super resolution to investigate whether phase separated phyB photobodies are directly associated with light-responsive chromatin loci.
Requirements:
Significant experience and a proven track-record with confocal microscopy, and (plant) molecular biology. A Master degree in the field of cell or molecular biology. A desire to succeed in science.
Important: Only applicants who have not spent more than 12 months in Germany on their studies within the preceding 36 months are eligible. Any students based in Germany can apply to AGILE projects outside of Germany.
Environment:
Heidelberg (Germany) is one of the biggest molecular biology hubs in Europe. The Light Signaling and Cell Biology lab of Dr. van Gelderen is a young and ambitious lab with a friendly working environment and many contacts and collaborations within the institute, the Centre for Organismal Studies, and with the rest of Heidelberg University and the EMBL.
Responsible PI:
Dr. Kasper van Gelderen
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7809-2812
https://www.cos.uni-heidelberg.de/en/research-groups/light-signaling-and-cell-biology
Contact:
kasper.van.gelderen@cos.uni-heidelberg.de