Post-doc position On gene-environment interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans using genetical genomics
Job description
It is widely documented that environmental changes will induce differential expression of genes,
yet it is unknown how these patterns of environment-induced expression plasticity are inherited
and how they differ between genetically divergent individuals of a biological species. We use
recombinant inbred lines of the nematode C. elegans and measure genome-wide gene expression
(genetical genomics) at different environmental conditions. Using statistical analysis tools
developed for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, we aim to detect genes with genetically
determined differences in their plastic response to environmental changes. Our previous results
show that differential responses of different genotypes to environmental changes are widespread.
The candidate will study the heritable component of plasticity of gene transcription regulation to
enhance our understanding of the environmental forces that drive evolutionary adaptation. 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
• PhD degree in Biology, genetical and/or biotechnological sciences
• experience in genetic mapping and knowledge of bioinformatics or high throughput gene
expression profiling is required
• excellent writing (English) and communication skills
• accurate, systematic worker
Organization
Wageningen University and Researchcentre, Laboratory of Nematology
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: € 3597,-
Duration of the contract: 3 years
Additional information 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.