Project: Visualizing physiology of plant root cells
Research group: Division of cellgrowth
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Deadline is closed
Project annotation:
Plants are sessile organisms whose movements can be spotted only in time lapse movies. On the cellular level, however, plants are as dynamic as animals. Plant root cells respond to stimuli within seconds with changes in physiological parameters such as action potentials, cytoskeletal dynamics and cellular expansion. Our team focuses on mechanisms of gravitropism and the early responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to the phytohormone auxin.
The aim of this project is to extend the research beyond reaction of roots to auxin and to visualize and map early physiological responses of cells to hormonal and nutritional stimuli also using our newly established live cell imaging system that consists of vertical spinning disk microscope and a microfluidics setup.
The dynamics of early cellular responses can help reveal the nature of the underlying molecular pathways that power plant hormonal signaling.
Relevant literature from our and other groups:
Fendrych, M., Akhmanova, M., Merrin, J., Glanc, M., Hagihara, S., Takahashi, K., Uchida, N., Torii, K.U. and Friml, J. (2018) Rapid and reversible root growth inhibition by TIR1 auxin signalling. Nat. Plants, 4, 453–459.
Wangenheim, D. von, Hauschild, R., Fendrych, M., Barone, V., Benková, E. and Friml, J. (2017) Live tracking of moving samples in confocal microscopy for vertically grown roots. Elife, 6.
Prigge, M.J., Platre, M., Kadakia, N., et al. (2020) Genetic analysis of the Arabidopsis TIR1/AFB auxin receptors reveals both overlapping and specialized functions. Elife, 9, 1–28.
Eliglibility criteria:
Selection process:
Selection will be based on the relevance of candidates’ professional interests and experience, and excellence in research achievements.
Position duration, starting date and remuneration:
The position duration is 24 months, starting on January 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2023. Standard gross monthly salary is approx. 2 400 € including health insurance and social insurance coverage. The job status is full-time - 40 hours per week.
Required application materials:
How to submit materials:
Please send email with the required application materials to the project principal investigator.
Application deadline:
The application deadline is July 25, 2020. Succesfull candidates will be informed by October 10, 2020.