Dic 10
10
The laboratory of Immunology (Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University, BELGIUM) has a world-renowned reputation in the field of lymphocyte development and is looking for talented and highly motivated researchers to join our team. The lab has recently established high-level expertise in the generation and culture of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, that were also able to differentiate into hematopoietic precursor cells(HPC), NK cells and T cells. In this novel research project, we wish to use zinc finger nucleases in human pluripotent stem cells to enable site-specific editing of the genome, thereby providing unprecedented research opportunities for functional gene studies in human. We wish to establish this technology to generate human pluripotent stem cells with specific gene deletions or reporter genes to study gene function in the differentiation of HPC, T and NK cells from pluripotent stem cells.
The lab has the following positions available :
Postdoc Position
The post-doc will be responsible for implementing the zinc-finger nuclease technology in human pluripotent stem cells to generate constitutive and conditional gene deletions by homologous recombination. In addition, he/she will target reporter genes in the constitutively expressed AAVS1 locus. This will enable him/her to further develop and manage his/her own project. The post-doc will also be responsible for transferring this technology onto PhD students and technicians within the lab.
The applicant should be a real team-player, have a relevant PhD in (bio)medical or biological sciences and hands-on experience with molecular techniques such as design of DNA constructs for targeted genome editing, recombination technology and/or other DNA cloning technology. Experience with embryonic stem cells, cell culture and/or flow cytometry is an asset.
The position is open starting January 1st 2011 and is available for 4 years.
PhD Positions
Within the same research project, PhD positions are available to study the function of
specific genes (for example Bcl11b and CCR9) in the differentiation of human HPCs, T and NK cells from pluripotent stem cells that will harbor either a deletion for the gene of interest, or a reporter gene that will allow tracing of cells that express that gene.
Applicants should have a relevant masters degree in (bio)medical or biological sciences and should be willing to apply for personal research grants at the FWO and/or IWT.
The positions are open starting January 1rst 2011 and are available for 4 years.
For further information, please contact bart.vandekerckhove@ugent.be,
georges.leclercq@ugent.be or tom.taghon@ugent.be .
Applications should be send by email to jean.plum@ugent.be
