PhD position in Functional Genomics

Scholarships for graduate students are now available at the Tauber research laboratory for Biological Clocks at the University of Haifa, Israel. Research in the lab focuses on the the circadian clock: a fascinating system that drives daily rhythms in physiology, metabolism and behaviour, and is present in nearly all living organisms. We study Drosophila, whose clock genes are well conserved in humans. We employ a broad range of techniques, including molecular cloning, transgenics and imaging, as well as quantitative genetics, behavioural analysis, and bioinformatics.

Circadian clocks are molecular pacemakers in the brain and are present in diverse range of organisms, from cyanobacteria to human. The rhythm of the endogenous clock (slightly different from 24hr) is adjusted to the solar day by entrainment to various stimuli, primarily light. Modern life introduces situations, such as transatlantic flights and shift work, where the circadian rhythm and the external light cycle are too dissimilar to reconcile leading to a wide range of health problems, including ‘jetlag’, sleep disorders, seasonal depression, and cancer.

In the last few decades, the molecular basis of the clock has been elucidated. The fruit-fly Drosophila has been a major model system for identifying circadian clock genes, which are well conserved in human. By inducing mutagenesis and screening for Drosophila mutants that show aberrant light response, various proteins were identified to be involved in light transduction. Our research focuses on natural genetic variation related to clock function. We aim at identifying natural variants that have been evolved in wild populations, serving as molecular adaptations under different light and temperature conditions. We use broad range of techniques, including molecular cloning, transgenics and gene knockdown as well as quantitative genetics, behavioural analysis, and bioinformatics.

Potential Research Projects:

1) Study how natural genetic variations in clock genes modify the clock function in different environments.

2) Study what is the role of the circadian clock in dey-length measurement (the photoperiodic clock), which is important for timing seasonal responses (for this area of research we are also using the Jewel wasp Nasonia as model system).

3) Study the genetic basis that underlies preference for either diurnal or nocturnal activity in animals.

For more information Visit our website: www.bit.ly/tauberLab