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EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

PhD position in the Plant Adaptation Lab at EPFL

Mission

The newly established Plant Adaptation Lab (PAL) is looking for a motivated student to work on a Swiss National Science Foundation funded project on plant adaptation to salinity stress


About the Plant Adaptation Laboratory (PAL)
The PAL focuses on mineral nutrition and stress adaptation in plants. Saline soil is an important agronomic problem. While it is widely acknowledged that salinity is a critical factor that limits plant growth and crop productivity worldwide, there are serious gaps in our understanding of how sodium toxicity plays out at the cellular level, and the mechanisms plants employ to tolerate salinity. 

Profile

  • Master’s in biology or related disciplines, preferably plants
  • Experience with molecular biology and cloning techniques
  • Strong interest in optical and cryo imaging techniques
  • Basic knowledge or experience with coding, data analysis and biostatistics
  • Excellent oral and written English skills.

Tasks and responsibilities

At PAL, we want to understand how plants cope and adapt to salinity across biological scales, particularly the subcellular coping strategies. Towards this, the student will conduct research on genetic model Arabidopsis and `wild` halophytes (naturally salt-tolerant species) to determine what makes halophytes better at dealing with salinity.

He.she will have the opportunity to drive the project using a range of genetics, micro- and nano-scale analytical, and live-imaging techniques.

We offer

  • Opportunity to work on multidisciplinary and cutting-edge projects using  different imaging techniques, including the unique CryoNanoSIMS ion probe
  • Opportunity to access state-of-the-art research facilities and laboratory resources
  • A competitive Swiss PhD student salary.

 

EPFL is an international and top ranking Swiss university that offers a dynamic, stimulating, interdiscipli-nary, international and friendly working environment. It hosts a broad range of scientific training and networking events and a vibrant entrepreneurial community. Furthermore EPFL is an equal-opportunity employer. 

Application informations

  • Important note: The chosen candidate will have to be accepted into the Doctoral School at EPFL before the work-contract can start
  • Your application should include: 1. Motivation letter; 2. Full CV and transcript of records (Bachelor and Master); 3. Contact information of at least 3 people who can provide a letter of reference
  • Please submit your application as a single document 










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