PhD Gene-environment interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans
Job description
Environmental variation is an important driver of evolution. Gene-environment interactions are at the
heart of this selection process affecting traits in numerous organisms. Goal of the project is to identify
gene-environment interactions underlying complex traits in the soil nematode Caenorhabditis
elegans… The characterization of genes will be performed in natural as well as laboratory populations
using quantitative genetic and genomical approaches. The PhD candidate will investigate the genetic
variation of gene expression (genetical genomics) in laboratory strains of C. elegans exposed to
different environmental conditions. Natural field populations of C. elegans. will be assessed for
comparative gene expression in response to selected soil parameters. Traits to be studied can be
body size, feeding behaviour and mobility in response to anoxia, temperature, pH and toxic stressors.
Recent papers of our group include:
Kammenga JE, Doroszuk A, Riksen JAG, Hazendonk E, Spiridon L, Petrescu AJ, Tijsterman M, Plasterk RHA,
Bakker J (2007) A C. elegans wild-type defies the temperature-size rule owing to a single nucleotide
polymorphism in tra-3. PLoS Genetics 3: 358-366.
Kammenga JE, Herman M, Ouborg NJ, Johnson L, Breitling R (2007) Microarray challenges in ecology.
Trends Ecol. Evol. 22: 273-279.
Li Y, Alvarez OA, Gutteling EW, Tijsterman M, Fu J, Riksen JAG, Hazendonk E, Prins P, Plasterk RHA, Jansen
RC, Breitling R, Kammenga JE (2006) Mapping determinants of gene expression plasticity by genetical
genomics in C. elegans. PLoS Genetics 2: e222.
Gutteling EW, Riksen JAG, Bakker J, Kammenga JE (2007) Mapping phenotypic plasticity and
genotypeenvironment interactions affecting life history traits in Caenorhabditis elegans, Heredity, 98: 28-37.
Gutteling EW, Doroszuk A, Riksen JAG, Prokop Z, Reszka J, Kammenga JE (2007) Environmental influence
on the genetic correlations between life-history traits in Caenorhabditis elegans. Heredity, 98: 206-213.
Requirements
• MSc degree in Biology, genetical and/or evolutionary sciences or comparable education
• experience in genetic mapping and knowledge of bioinformatics is preferred
• good writing (English) and communication skills
• accurate, systematic worker
Organization
Wageningen University and Researchcentre, Laboratory of Nematology
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2000 - 2500
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 1-4 years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Temporary contract for 1 year. After a positive evaluation of this first year an extension of 3 years will
be given. Salary from € 1933,- in the first year to € 2472,- in the fourth year, per month, based on full
time employment.
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Dr. Jan E. Kammenga, Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 5, 6709 PD,
Wageningen, The Netherlands, Tel: +31 317 482998/482197, Fax: +31 317 484254, email:
Jan.Kammenga AT wur.nl
No rights can be obtained from this notification.