Utrecht University, Faculty of Science
(1.0 fte)
(Utrecht), 38 hours per week
Job description
Filamentous fungi are complex organisms with a high degree of differentiation. Differentiation is clear when one takes a closer look at a mushroom. Its morphology is clearly different from that of the mycelium that grows in the substrate but also within the mushroom several tissue types can be distinguished (cap, gills, spores, stem etc). Recently, the Microbiology group showed that the mycelium that feeds the spore producing mushrooms (or other spore producing structures) is also highly differentiated.
Differentiation in the fungal mycelium can be studied by a new method that was recently developed in the Molecular Biophysics group. This technique, called nonlinear spectral imaging microscopy, acquires images of the autofluorescence spectra of tissues and cells upon exposure to ultra-short pulses of near infra-red laser light via two-photon excitation. The autofluorescence spectrum contains, amongst others, information about the metabolic state of the tissue or cells. For instance, cancer cells can be discriminated from healthy cells by spectral imaging.
Within this project we will set up “microbial spectral imaging”. As a model, we will use the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus and the mushroom Schizophyllum commune. Spectral images will be acquired during colonization of the substrate as well as of the tissue of mushrooms during their development. Fingerprints of the mycelia and tissues will be related to processes like growth and secretion. Software will be developed to be able to un-mix the fluorescence spectrum into the spectra of the individual autofluorescing components.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
The candidate should have a background in (bio)physics with an interest in biology and informatics. He should be enthusiastic, willing to work in a multidisciplinary team and willing to develop new skills. We aim to start the project in September 2008. However, the starting date is negotiable.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Food)
Organization
Utrecht University, Faculty of Science
The new Faculty of Science consists of six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 3500 students and nearly 2000 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty's academic programmes reflect developments in today's society.
The PhD project is financed by the Dutch Technology Foundation and is a collaboration between the Molecular Biophysics group of the Department of Physics and the Microbiology group of the Department of Biology. The programme of the Molecular Biophysics group headed by Prof H.C. Gerritsen focuses on the application and development of novel fluorescence spectroscopy-based imaging methods as well as the characterization and development of luminescent labels. The technical developments by the group are to a great extent driven by biological and biophysical problems which cannot be imaged with conventional techniques. The programme of the Microbiology group headed by Prof.dr. H.A.B. Wösten focuses on growth and differentiation processes in fungi. Research lines include development of mushrooms and differentiation in the mycelium of fungal cell factories.
PhD-researcher Molecular Biophysics & Microbiology
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Salary: scale 08.
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The candidate is offered a full-time position for four years. The gross salary is in the range between € 2,000.- per month in year 1 and € 2,558.- per month in year four. The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 6,4% per year. In addition we offer a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions in which you may trade salary for vacation days or vice versa.
Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project.
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Prof.dr H.A.B. Wösten
E-mail address: h.a.b.wosten@uu.nl
Application
You can apply for this job before 30-06-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
University of Utrecht, Faculty of Science
Personnel Department
Postbus 80.010
3508 TA Utrecht
The Netherlands
E-mail: Science.PenO@uu.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 66802.
(Utrecht), 38 hours per week
Job description
Filamentous fungi are complex organisms with a high degree of differentiation. Differentiation is clear when one takes a closer look at a mushroom. Its morphology is clearly different from that of the mycelium that grows in the substrate but also within the mushroom several tissue types can be distinguished (cap, gills, spores, stem etc). Recently, the Microbiology group showed that the mycelium that feeds the spore producing mushrooms (or other spore producing structures) is also highly differentiated.
Differentiation in the fungal mycelium can be studied by a new method that was recently developed in the Molecular Biophysics group. This technique, called nonlinear spectral imaging microscopy, acquires images of the autofluorescence spectra of tissues and cells upon exposure to ultra-short pulses of near infra-red laser light via two-photon excitation. The autofluorescence spectrum contains, amongst others, information about the metabolic state of the tissue or cells. For instance, cancer cells can be discriminated from healthy cells by spectral imaging.
Within this project we will set up “microbial spectral imaging”. As a model, we will use the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus and the mushroom Schizophyllum commune. Spectral images will be acquired during colonization of the substrate as well as of the tissue of mushrooms during their development. Fingerprints of the mycelia and tissues will be related to processes like growth and secretion. Software will be developed to be able to un-mix the fluorescence spectrum into the spectra of the individual autofluorescing components.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
The candidate should have a background in (bio)physics with an interest in biology and informatics. He should be enthusiastic, willing to work in a multidisciplinary team and willing to develop new skills. We aim to start the project in September 2008. However, the starting date is negotiable.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Food)
Organization
Utrecht University, Faculty of Science
The new Faculty of Science consists of six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 3500 students and nearly 2000 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty's academic programmes reflect developments in today's society.
The PhD project is financed by the Dutch Technology Foundation and is a collaboration between the Molecular Biophysics group of the Department of Physics and the Microbiology group of the Department of Biology. The programme of the Molecular Biophysics group headed by Prof H.C. Gerritsen focuses on the application and development of novel fluorescence spectroscopy-based imaging methods as well as the characterization and development of luminescent labels. The technical developments by the group are to a great extent driven by biological and biophysical problems which cannot be imaged with conventional techniques. The programme of the Microbiology group headed by Prof.dr. H.A.B. Wösten focuses on growth and differentiation processes in fungi. Research lines include development of mushrooms and differentiation in the mycelium of fungal cell factories.
PhD-researcher Molecular Biophysics & Microbiology
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Salary: scale 08.
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The candidate is offered a full-time position for four years. The gross salary is in the range between € 2,000.- per month in year 1 and € 2,558.- per month in year four. The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 6,4% per year. In addition we offer a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions in which you may trade salary for vacation days or vice versa.
Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project.
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Prof.dr H.A.B. Wösten
E-mail address: h.a.b.wosten@uu.nl
Application
You can apply for this job before 30-06-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
University of Utrecht, Faculty of Science
Personnel Department
Postbus 80.010
3508 TA Utrecht
The Netherlands
E-mail: Science.PenO@uu.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 66802.
