Thesis

(online since: 06.08.2021)

Description of thesis:

The thesis project will address the involvement of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins in metabolic flexibility in mouse and human cancer cell lines. We will focus on the UCPs expression alterations and its possible cross-talk with changes in malignant cell metabolism.

Requirements:

Ongoing bachelor/master studies (University / University of Applied Science) in a related field (molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, biotechnology, biochemistry or equivalent).

• Interest in cancer biology, strong motivation to engage in the project.
• High reliability, great team-working skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Experience in molecular/cell biology techniques would be advantageous.

Further information:

• You will be part of our young international team with a collaborative and inspiring working atmosphere.
• A stimulating and dynamic scientific environment with individual supervision. We are familiar with the supervision and execution of bachelor /master theses and we look forward to supporting you accordingly.
• A financial support according to the guidelines of Vetmed Uni Vienna is possible.

Key data:

• Start: as soon as possible
• Duration: k.A.
• Language: English

Name of organisational unit:

• Unit of Physiology and Biophysics
• Contact person:
  Taraneh Beikbaghban, MSc.
  T +43 1 25077-4503
  Send E-Mail to Taraneh Beikbaghban

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
In this project, we will first validate the correct EIA to measure androgen, progestagen, and glucocorticoid metabolites in kea parrot fecal samples. We will then establish baseline levels of these hormones both within and outside of the breeding season.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

1. Ability to work outside in all weather conditions for the duration of the project
2. ability to travel to Bad Voeslau at least 3x/week (transportation provided)
3. Good English writing skills.

Further Information:
This project will take place at the Kea Lab, at the Haidlhof Research Station in Bad Voeslau. The final project report will be written in the form of a manuscript, with the intent of submitting it for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The report will also serve as the diploma thesis.

Language of the Thesis:
English

Duration of the Thesis:
01.02.2023 to 31.07.2023

Name of Institute:
Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Amelia Wein, 
amelia.wein-schwing@vetmeduni.ac.at
If you are interested, please send your CV and one recommendation letter to the email address above.

Feedback from students requested by:
15 January 2023

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
The environmental impact of companion dogs and cats by quantifying their dietary ecological paw print and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be investigated. The assessment of the GHG emission in Austria will done by a combination of a literature survey and the inventory of companion animals which are fed by meet.

Required Skills and Knowledge:
Nutritional physiology, interest in climate change issues

Language of the Thesis:
preferred englisch, german possible

Duration of the Thesis:
Start immediately, Duration 3 months

Name of Institute:
Physiologie und Biophysik

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Prof. Günther Schauberger
E-Mail: Gunther.Schauberger(@vetmeduni.ac.at
Phone: +43 (1) 25077 - 4574

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
Calves of the experimental group regularly witness their foster dam interacting gently with a person, whereas calves of the control group witness only the presence of the person. We will conduct behavioural tests to assess the quality of the calves' relationship with humans. The candidate will be involved during data collection and analysis.

Required Skills and Knowledge:
Willingness to travel and to stay on a farm for several weeks at a time; ability to work in a team; desirable: experience with handling of cattle; knowledge of applied ethology, animal welfare science and/or the human-animal relationship; experience with the statistical environment R

Additional Information:
End of July to October 2023 on a farm near Graz

Sprache, in der die Abschlussarbeit verfasst werden soll:
English oder German

Voraussichtliche Dauer der Abschlussarbeit:
20.07.2023 bis 15.01.2024

Name der Organisationseinheit:
Institute of Animal Welfare Science

Ansprechpartner:in/Betreuer:in:

• Dr. Stephanie Lürzel,
  E-Mail: stephanie.luerzel@vetmeduni.ac.at
  Tel: 01 25077 4911
   
• Prof. Susanne Waiblinger
  E-Mail: susanne.waiblinger@vetmeduni.ac.at
  Tel: 01 25077 4905

Rückmeldung von Studierenden erbeten bis:
30.04.2023

Title of the thesis/topic:
Social learning strategies in free-ranging dogs in Morocco

Short description of the thesis/topic:
The project involves observational and non-invasive experimental work with free-ranging dogs in Morocco (Agadir area). We will investigate the social structure and ecology of packs and physical, cognitive and social skills in both puppies and adult dogs.

Requirements:
Candidates will be required to:

• Carry out behavioural observations of dogs for at least 6 hours a day (in hot weather conditions);
• Carry out field experiments;
• Collect saliva and hair samples;
• Code behaviours from videos;
• Take care of data entry/management.

Further information:
Students will learn:

• Complex behavioural observation methods using different kinds of protocols;
• Census techniques;
• Field tests of cognitive skills;
• Non-invasive hormone, isotope and DNA sample collection;
• Video analysis

Duration of the thesis:
6 months

Start: 
October 2022 (or following months)

Language of the thesis:
English

Contact details:

Name of the organisational unit (Institute/Clinic/Unit):
Domestication Lab, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology

Contact person for the thesis:
Giulia Cimarelli, PhD
giulia.cimarelli@vetmeduni.ac.at

Feedback from students requested by: 30.09.2022

Short description of the thesis:

Intense research in the last few decades has shown that dogs are extremely good at reading human social and communicative behavior. However, as compared to social cognition, the cognitive abilities of dogs in the physical domain have been relatively sparsely studied. As a result, it still remains unclear what dogs know about physical relations, for instance about the fact that an object can have an impact on the movements of another one (i.e., means-end understanding).

A usual way of studying means-end understanding in animals is Piaget’s “support problem”- which involves a goal object (e.g., food) that is out of a subject’s reach, but is resting on a support (e.g., a wooden board) that is within the subject’s reach. The task is based on the assumption that if an animal understands the physical properties of the wooden board it uses it as a means to an end, i.e., pulls the support to get the reward into reach. Animals without means-end understanding will only be able to succeed through repeated exposure allowing for associative learning.

In this study, dogs will be tested in a variation of the support problem – known as the “on/off task”. Dogs will need to retrieve an out-of-reach food reward placed behind a physical barrier (fence). While the reward itself is out of reach, it is physically connected to a wooden board within the dog’s reach. Dogs will be presented with two wooden boards - one board with a food reward on top of it (ON board), and another board with a reward placed next to it (OFF board). Successful retrieval of the treat requires the dogs to pull the appropriate board by pawing the wooden until the treat emerges from under the barrier.

Two groups of dogs will be tested repeatedly in two experimental conditions: 1) in the natural condition, dogs will be able to retrieve the reward by pulling the ON board. The reward placed next to the OFF board will not move if dogs pull on this board; 2) in the magic condition, dogs will be able to retrieve the reward by pulling the OFF board. The reward placed on the ON board will not move if dogs pull on this board. The main hypothesis is that, if solving the task is based on associative learning, dogs will learn the causally correct (i.e., natural) and causally incorrect (i.e., magic version) versions of the task similarly fast. However, if dogs have a certain level of means-end understanding, they will learn faster in the causally correct version than in the magic one.

Testing will take place in the Clever Dog Lab (link) and will be carried out by two master students who will collaborate to 1) conduct the behavioral testing, 2) conduct qualitative/quantitative behaviour coding (live and from videos), and 3) statistically analyse the data.

Requirements:

• Experience with animal/dog handling
• Basic knowledge in statistics using R
• Excellent teamwork skills

Further information:

The students will learn how to design behavioral studies, conduct behavioral testing, conduct qualitative/quantitative behaviour coding (live and from videos), and statistically analyse data using the appropriate statistical methods.

Key data of the thesis:

• Duration of the thesis: 6 months
• Start: as soon as possible
• Language of the thesis: English

Key data of the organisational unit:

• Organisational Unit: Messerli Research Institute, Comparative Cognition Unit/ Clever Dog Lab

• Contact persons: Christiana Tsiourti (christiana.tsiourti@vetmeduni.ac.at)  /Zsófia Virányi (Zsofia.Viranyi@vetmeduni.ac.at) /

Title of the thesis/topic:
Histopathological and molecular investigations on partridges (perdix perdix) inoculated with a partridge pegivirus (ParPgV)

Short description of the thesis/topic:
In recent years, outbreaks of encephalitis of viral origin have been observed in flocks of partridges in France. Consequently, sequences of a pegivirus  – here named partridge pegivirus (ParPgV) –  were detected by Next Generation Sequencing and PCR in partridge brain samples that presented histopathological lesions. To determine a causal relationship between the ParPgV and the observed disease, partridges were experimentally inoculated with the virus, monitored for clinical signs, and sampled throughout time. In this thesis the collected samples will be investigated by histopathology, and PCR. Expectly, the obtained results will provide a more definite resolution of the aetiology of the outbreaks observed in the field.

Requirements:
Theoretical knowledge and interest in veterinary virology and pathology.

Further information:
Histological and in-situ hybridization techniques will be performed together with real-time PCR investigations.

Duration of the thesis:
3-5 months

Start: 
as soon as possible

Language of the thesis:
English

Contact details:

Name of the organisational unit (Institute/Clinic/Unit):
Unit for Poultry Medicine

Contact person for the thesis:
Dr. Miguel Matos
miguel.matos@vetmeduni.ac.at

Overall project:

The SLA Complex: Molecular Genetics and Importance in Veterinary Vaccine Research

Short project description:

Livestock species are a major source of animal protein worldwide. To ensure animal health and food safety, it is essential to prevent infectious diseases via biosecurity and use of well-designed vaccines and therapeutics. Advances in genomics have informed our understanding of the complexity of the immune system and the genes that influence disease and vaccine responses, with the most important being the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Viral, bacterial and parasitic infections have severe influences on animal welfare and livestock economy. Development of an adaptive immune system to fight off these infections relies on effective activation of T lymphocytes and their recognition of pathogen-derived peptides presented by MHC molecules to T cell receptors (TCR). The highly polymorphic nature of the MHC allows for the presentation of a wide panel of antigenic peptides and thus influences disease resistance and vaccine responsiveness. In Europe, swine represent economically important farm animals and furthermore have become a preferred preclinical large animal model for biomedical studies, transplantation and regenerative medicine research. The need for typing of the swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) is increasing with the expanded use of pigs as models for human diseases and organ transplantation experiments and their use in infection studies and for design of veterinary vaccines. In this study, we characterise the SLA class I (SLA-1, SLA-2, SLA-3) and class II (DRB1, DQB1, DQA) genes of farmed pigs representing various commercial pig lines by low-resolution (Lr) SLA haplotyping.
Further reading: Anim Genet. 2021 Aug; 52(4): 523–531. Published online 2021 May 24. doi: 10.1111/age.13090

Previous knowledge/prerequisites:

• Advanced stage in the study programme Veterinary medicine (8 or 9^th term onwards)
• Basic knowledge in molecular genetics and immunology
• Experience with basic molecular techniques
• Profound English language skills are welcome but not mandatory
• Previous experience with veterinary immunology or immunogenetics is beneficial

Additional comments:

If you are interested and would like to be part of the immunology research team, please send a cover letter and a curriculum vitae to Priv.-Doz. Dr. Sabine E. Hammer

Planned duration of the thesis project:

01.03.2023 - 29.09.2023 – from March 1, 2023 to September 29, 2023

Name of the research unit:

Institute of Immunology at the Department of Pathobiology

Supervisor:

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Sabine E. Hammer

Interested candidates may reply until:

February 3, 2023 – 03.02.2023

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
Mitochondria are vital for cellular energy, metabolism, and survival. 
Dysfunctional mitochondria in general and disruption of mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis, in particular, are associated with ageing, inflammation, and severe human diseases.
We recently identified the long sought after mitochondrial Ca2+/H+ exchanger TMBIM5, which opens a new door to study its pathophysiologic relevance in human diseases.
The project focuses on the role of interaction of TMBIM5 with the Parkinson’s disease (PD) protein CHCHD2 in the physiopathology of PD. 

Required Skills and Knowledge:
Motivation, solid background in molecular biology and biochemistry, wet-lab experience and good English language skills. 
BSc Degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine or a related subject 

Further Information:
We offer:
 A highly supportive and dynamic work environment for competitive frontier research 
Teamwork, and guidance by supervisor and colleagues.
 Regular lab meetings. Participation in workshops and other scientific activities.
 The position is funded by the Austrian Science Funds FWF.

Language of the Thesis:
English

Duration of the thesis:
10.01.2023 to 31.01.2023

Name of the Institute/Clinic/Unit:
Mitochondrial Biology Group, Unit of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.

Contact Person for the Thesis/Topic (Name, E-Mail,Phone):

• Karin.Nowikovsky@vetmeduni.ac.at
• Sami.Mohammed@vetmeduni.ac.at

Feedback from students requested by:
as soon as possible, flexible starting date, duration 12 months

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
Calves of the experimental group regularly witness their foster dam interacting gently with a person, whereas calves of the control group witness only the presence of the person. We will conduct behavioural tests to assess the quality of the calves' relationship with humans. The candidate will be involved during data collection and analysis.

Required Skills and Knowledge:
Willingness to travel and to stay on a farm for several weeks at a time; ability to work in a team; desirable: experience with handling of cattle; knowledge of applied ethology, animal welfare science and/or the human-animal relationship; experience with the statistical environment R

Additional Information:
End of July to October 2023 on a farm near Graz

Sprache, in der die Abschlussarbeit verfasst werden soll:
English oder German

Voraussichtliche Dauer der Abschlussarbeit:
20.07.2023 bis 15.01.2024

Name der Organisationseinheit:
Institute of Animal Welfare Science

Ansprechpartner:in/Betreuer:in:

• Dr. Stephanie Lürzel,
  E-Mail: stephanie.luerzel@vetmeduni.ac.at
  Tel: 01 25077 4911
   
• Prof. Susanne Waiblinger
  E-Mail: susanne.waiblinger@vetmeduni.ac.at
  Tel: 01 25077 4905

Rückmeldung von Studierenden erbeten bis:
30.04.2023

Short description of the thesis:

Intense research in the last few decades has shown that dogs are extremely good at reading human social and communicative behavior. However, as compared to social cognition, the cognitive abilities of dogs in the physical domain have been relatively sparsely studied. As a result, it still remains unclear what dogs know about physical relations, for instance about the fact that an object can have an impact on the movements of another one (i.e., means-end understanding).

A usual way of studying means-end understanding in animals is Piaget’s “support problem”- which involves a goal object (e.g., food) that is out of a subject’s reach, but is resting on a support (e.g., a wooden board) that is within the subject’s reach. The task is based on the assumption that if an animal understands the physical properties of the wooden board it uses it as a means to an end, i.e., pulls the support to get the reward into reach. Animals without means-end understanding will only be able to succeed through repeated exposure allowing for associative learning.

In this study, dogs will be tested in a variation of the support problem – known as the “on/off task”. Dogs will need to retrieve an out-of-reach food reward placed behind a physical barrier (fence). While the reward itself is out of reach, it is physically connected to a wooden board within the dog’s reach. Dogs will be presented with two wooden boards - one board with a food reward on top of it (ON board), and another board with a reward placed next to it (OFF board). Successful retrieval of the treat requires the dogs to pull the appropriate board by pawing the wooden until the treat emerges from under the barrier.

Two groups of dogs will be tested repeatedly in two experimental conditions: 1) in the natural condition, dogs will be able to retrieve the reward by pulling the ON board. The reward placed next to the OFF board will not move if dogs pull on this board; 2) in the magic condition, dogs will be able to retrieve the reward by pulling the OFF board. The reward placed on the ON board will not move if dogs pull on this board. The main hypothesis is that, if solving the task is based on associative learning, dogs will learn the causally correct (i.e., natural) and causally incorrect (i.e., magic version) versions of the task similarly fast. However, if dogs have a certain level of means-end understanding, they will learn faster in the causally correct version than in the magic one.

Testing will take place in the Clever Dog Lab (link) and will be carried out by two master students who will collaborate to 1) conduct the behavioral testing, 2) conduct qualitative/quantitative behaviour coding (live and from videos), and 3) statistically analyse the data.

Requirements:

• Experience with animal/dog handling
• Basic knowledge in statistics using R
• Excellent teamwork skills

Further information:

The students will learn how to design behavioral studies, conduct behavioral testing, conduct qualitative/quantitative behaviour coding (live and from videos), and statistically analyse data using the appropriate statistical methods.

Key data of the thesis:

• Duration of the thesis: 6 months
• Start: as soon as possible
• Language of the thesis: English

Key data of the organisational unit:

• Organisational Unit: Messerli Research Institute, Comparative Cognition Unit/ Clever Dog Lab

• Contact persons: Christiana Tsiourti (christiana.tsiourti@vetmeduni.ac.at)  /Zsófia Virányi (Zsofia.Viranyi@vetmeduni.ac.at) /

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:

The project involves observational and non-invasive experimental work with free-ranging dogs in Morocco (Agadir area). We will investigate the social structure and ecology of packs and physical, cognitive and social skills in both puppies and adult dogs.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

Candidates will be required to:
Carry out behavioural observations of dogs for at least 6 hours a day (in hot weather conditions)
Carry out field experiments
Collect saliva and hair samples
Code behaviours from videos
Take care of data entry/management.

Further Information:

Students will learn:
Complex behavioural observation methods using different kinds of protocols
Census techniques
Field tests of cognitive skills
Non-invasive hormone, isotope and DNA sample collection
Video analysis

Language of the Thesis:
English

Duration of the thesis:
6 months

Start of the thesis:
October 2022 (or following months)

Contact Person for the Thesis/Topic (Name, E-Mail,Phone):

Giulia Cimarelli, PhD giulia.cimarelli@vetmeduni.ac.at
 

Feedback from students requested by:
30.09.2022

Name of the Institute/Clinic/Unit:
Domestication Lab, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology

Description of thesis:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and affects over 7 million people worldwide. Metastasis to distant organs is the main cause of death of these patients, which underlines the need for novel therapeutic means.

NK cells are effector lymphocytes of the innate immune system and the first line of defense in anti-tumor responses. They are also crucial to limit metastasis but their function is often strongly suppressed by the cancer environment.

Immune checkpoints are crucial regulators of immune cells guaranteeing controlled actions and preventing autoimmunity. Cancer growth and progression are associated with immune suppression and immune evasion. One of the evasion mechanisms of cancer cells is the ability to activate such immune checkpoints thereby preventing the cytotoxic ability of immune cells.

In this project, we plan to study changes of NK cells in the course of metastatic breast cancer to identify new checkpoints on NK cells, the inhibition of which, unleashes the NK cell response against metastasizing cells.

The successful applicant will join a collaborative research project with the Karl Landsteiner University. The project will be carried out at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna under the supervision of an experienced post- doctoral researcher and involves work with primary cell culture, biochemical assays, flow cytometry an in vivo mouse models

Requirements:

• BSc Degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine or a related subject
• Basic knowledge in immunology and tumor biology
• Experience with sterile cell culture work
• Fluent in English
• Previous experience with flow cytometry or mouse work is beneficial

Further information:

• Financial support will be provided
• If you are interested and would like to be part of the immunology research team, please send a cover letter and a curriculum vitae to dagmar.gotthardt@vetmeduni.ac.at

Key data:

• Start: January/February 2023
• Duration: 12 months
• Language: English
• Feedback from students requested by: as soon as possible
• Further Information

Name of organisational unit:

• Organisational uni: Insitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Contact person:
  Dagmar Gotthardt, PhD
  +43 1 25077-2900
  Send E-Mail to Dagmar Gotthardt

Overall project:

The SLA Complex: Molecular Genetics and Importance in Veterinary Vaccine Research

Short project description:

Livestock species are a major source of animal protein worldwide. To ensure animal health and food safety, it is essential to prevent infectious diseases via biosecurity and use of well-designed vaccines and therapeutics. Advances in genomics have informed our understanding of the complexity of the immune system and the genes that influence disease and vaccine responses, with the most important being the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Viral, bacterial and parasitic infections have severe influences on animal welfare and livestock economy. Development of an adaptive immune system to fight off these infections relies on effective activation of T lymphocytes and their recognition of pathogen-derived peptides presented by MHC molecules to T cell receptors (TCR). The highly polymorphic nature of the MHC allows for the presentation of a wide panel of antigenic peptides and thus influences disease resistance and vaccine responsiveness. In Europe, swine represent economically important farm animals and furthermore have become a preferred preclinical large animal model for biomedical studies, transplantation and regenerative medicine research. The need for typing of the swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) is increasing with the expanded use of pigs as models for human diseases and organ transplantation experiments and their use in infection studies and for design of veterinary vaccines. In this study, we characterise the SLA class I (SLA-1, SLA-2, SLA-3) and class II (DRB1, DQB1, DQA) genes of farmed pigs representing various commercial pig lines by low-resolution (Lr) SLA haplotyping.
Further reading: Anim Genet. 2021 Aug; 52(4): 523–531. Published online 2021 May 24. doi: 10.1111/age.13090

Previous knowledge/prerequisites:

• BSc Degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine or a related subject
• Basic knowledge in molecular genetics and immunology
• Experience with basic molecular techniques
• Profound English language skills are welcome but not mandatory
• Previous experience with veterinary immunology or immunogenetics is beneficial

Additional comments:

If you are interested and would like to be part of the immunology research team, please send a cover letter and a curriculum vitae to Priv.-Doz. Dr. Sabine E. Hammer

Planned duration of the thesis project:

01.03.2023 - 29.09.2023 – from March 1, 2023 to September 29, 2023

Name of the research unit:

Institute of Immunology at the Department of Pathobiology

Supervisor:

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Sabine E. Hammer

Interested candidates may reply until:

February 3, 2023 – 03.02.2023

Level of employment: full time (30 hours/week)
Length of employment: 3-4 years
Deadline for applications: 1.12.2021 (position will remain vacant until filled)
Start: January 2022 or any time thereafter (negotiable)
Project Description
Several Doctoral/PhD positions are open at the Christian-Doppler Christian-Doppler-Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts in Livestock (CDL-LiveGUT) located at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna/Austria. In a nutshell, the aim of the research is to understand the molecular basis of rumen/gut microbiome × host interactions both driven from the animal individual characteristics and the diet. Upon this knowledge, feeding strategies will be tested to better exploit the such benefical interactions and enhance gastrointestinal health. The CDL-LiveGUT is joint research cluster that brings together various disciplines of animal nutrition, microbial ecology, gut physiology, and biomarker discovery, with a main goal to enhance gut health in farm animals by developing early biomarkers of gut health disorders and feeding approaches to prevent them.

www.cdg.ac.at/forschungseinheiten/labor/innovative-darmgesundheitskonzepte-bei-nutztieren

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a rare but severe illness in humans. L. monocytogenes can resist environmental stress and is therefore able to survive in multiple habitants e.g. in the host or the food producing environment. We recently identified a large genomic islet in L. monocytogenes harbouring a protein with rearrangement hotspot (Rhs) repeats. The Rhs insertion consists of potential novel toxin-antitoxin systems. This FWF-funded PhD project aims to investigate the role of the Rhs insertion in bacterial competition and virulence. 

Requirements: 
We are looking for a highly qualified and motivated student. The successful candidate should have the following qualifications:

• A completed Master’s degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
• Research experience in microbiology and cloning
• Experience in the characterization of toxin-antitoxin systems is preferred
• Good command of written and spoken English
• Highly motivated and organized
• Excellent team-working ability
 

Further Information:
This PhD project will be conducted at the Unit for Food Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in the research group of Kathrin Kober-Rychli. Funding will be for three years according to the salary scheme of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). Expected start: May 2023
How to Apply: Interested candidates should send application materials (cover letter stating interest and relevant experience, CV, university certificates and contact details of at least one referee) to Dr. Kathrin Kober-Rychli (kathrin.rychli@vetmeduni.ac.at) by 28th of February  2023. 

Language of the thesis:
English

Start:
May 2023

Duration of the thesis:
01/05/2023 to 30/04/2026

Name of Institute:
Unit of Food Microbiology
Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Dr. Kathrin Kober-Rychli
E-Mail: kathrin.rychli@vetmeduni.ac.at

Feedback from students requested by:
28th of February  2023

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:

Over the past years, Vienna has developed into one of the leading centres of population genetics. The Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics has been founded to provide a training opportunity for PhD students to build on this excellent on-site expertise.

We invite applications from highly motivated and outstanding students with a love for evolutionary research and a background in one of the following disciplines: evolutionary genetics, functional genetics, theoretical or experimental population genetics, bioinformatics, mathematics, statistics.

Topics include:

• Adaptation from reduced genetic variation.
• Development of haplotype-based inference methods.
• Evolution from de novo mutations - influence of elevated mutation rates.
• Evolution of sex-specific neuronal signaling.
• Inference of selection signatures from time-series data.
• Long-term dynamics of local Drosophila populations.
• Speciation from standing genetic variation.
• Studying the evolution of gene expression with single cell RNA-Seq.
• Understanding how selection acts on multiple tightly linked variants.

Requirements: 
Only complete applications (application form, CV, motivation letter, university certificates, indication of the two preferred topics in a single pdf) received by February15, 2023 will be considered. Two letters of recommendation need to be sent directly by the referees.

Further Information:
PhD students will receive a monthly salary based on currently EUR 2.300,30 before tax according to the regulations of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

Language of the thesis:
English

Start:
September 2023

Duration of the thesis:
3 years

Name of Institute:
Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Dr. Julia Hosp
E-Mail: julia.hosp@vetmeduni.ac.at
Telephone: +43 1 25077-4302

Feedback from students requested by:
15.02.2023