JOBs
Applications for a medical PhD thesis are welcome. Funding for 6 months is guaranteed (SFB 938).
Master thesis applications are welcome. Applicants should have an interest in T cell biology and T cell tolerance.
Master Student in Bioinformatics
The group of Prof. Bruno Kyewski at the
DKFZ studies an essential feature of the immune system, i.e. its ability to
discriminate between self and non-self. If this mechanism becomes leaky, it can
result in autoimmune diseases. The naïve T cells are tolerized to self-antigens
within the primary lymphoid organ, the “thymus”. A type of thymic epithelial
cells (mTECs) have the unique ability to express a wide array of genes that are
otherwise exclusively expressed in other body cells. This “promiscuous” gene expression
(pGE) displays two prominent features: the genes are highly
clustered in the genome and show a preference for tissue-restricted
antigens.
We currently study the evolutionary conservation of pGE and its molecular regulation.To this end we performed (i) genome-wide arrays in mouse, rat and human cells and (ii) extensive single cell gene expression analysis yielding complex co-expression patterns. Our preliminary bioinformatic analysis proceeded from the definition of TRA clusters, gene clustering and homology mapping. Future studies will address evolutionary mechanisms responsible for selecting this gene pool and defining the boundaries of these gene clusters. Conceivably, positional cues in the genome (i.e. global regulators/insulators) could have been driving forces during the co-evolution of pGE and adaptive immunity. In addition we will perform extensive image analysis relating chromosomal positioning to gene expression patterns at the single cell level.
To support the bioinformatic part of this project we are looking for a highly motivated, diligent and enthusiastic applicant with a strong background in programming (R and Perl) and an interest in immunology.
For further information kindly contact:
Phone: +49 6221 42 3614
E-mail: b.brors@dkfz.de
Prof. Bruno Kyewski
+49 6221 42 3734
b.kyewski@dkfz.de
Dr. Sheena Pinto
+ 49-6221 42 3781
s.pinto@dkfz.de
DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
For detailed information follow the link below.
