PhD fellowship to study interactions between keratinocytes, the immune system and the nervous system in the context of chronic pruritus.
Project summary
Skin is a major barrier organ that is exposed to a wide variety of insults, including microbial infection and noxious environmental stimuli. In this project we will focus on three skin components; keratinocyte-dominated epidermis, and two major sensory interfaces between the skin and external environment-the immune and nervous systems, to better understand how interactions between these cutaneous compartments manifest in chronic itch in the context of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis.
Skin is a major barrier organ that is exposed to a wide variety of insults, including microbial infection and noxious environmental stimuli. In this project we will focus on three skin components; keratinocyte-dominated epidermis, and two major sensory interfaces between the skin and external environment-the immune and nervous systems, to better understand how interactions between these cutaneous compartments manifest in chronic itch in the context of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis.
Candidate requirements
We are seeking an enthusiastic student with passion for pathophysiology of nervous system and implications of the cross-talk between the immune and nervous systems on homeostasis and disease onset and progression.
We are seeking an enthusiastic student with passion for pathophysiology of nervous system and implications of the cross-talk between the immune and nervous systems on homeostasis and disease onset and progression.
- MSc in neurobiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry or related areas.
- Expertise in; cell isolation and culture (neurons, keratinocytes, immune cells), immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, biochemical assays (immunoprecipitation, ELISA, Western Blot), and/or molecular biology (qPCR, transfection and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing) will be an asset.
- Successful recruitment to PhD school in Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology in Krakow (next recruitment round September 2020).
- Proficient communication (verbal and written) skills in English.
- Publications in the indicated research fields or other proof of productivity will be an asset.
The work will be undertaken at the Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, under the supervision of profesoor Joanna Cichy: https://wbbib.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/wydzial/zaklady-i-pracownie/zaklad-immunologii
The candidate is expected to start in October 2020 with a 4-year contract. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a motivation letter, a complete CV and one reference letter (as one PDF file Ref IMM2020/PhD/last name of the candidate) to joanna.cichy@uj.edu.pl
Application closes on July 31st. Pre-inquiries from interested students before the application deadline are welcome.