Oferta para la próxima convocatoria FPI - 2019 

Job title: PhD position at the Laboratory of Molecular Physiology (Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain). The position is linked to the project “MECHANO/OSMOSENSITIVE ION CHANNELS IN SHORT- AND LONG-TERM CELLULAR FUNCTIONS)”

 Job description: Mechanical forces influence cell behavior, from cell shape and movement to cell division and gene transcription through mechanotransduction and mechanoresponsive pathways triggered by cells. Understanding how cells dynamically integrate mechanical signals from the microenvironment is a challenging question in cell biology. The overall objective of the PhD research proposal will be centred in the study of the pathophysiological role of Mechano/osmosensitive channels (Piezo and TRP channels), particularly in the context of neurodegeneration.
To achieve the project objectives successful candidates will combine the use of molecular biology, electrophysiology and imaging techniques.
Selected references from the Molecular Physiology Lab related to the project:

1. Doñate-Macian P. Jungfleisch J., Pérez-Vilaró G., Rubio-Moscardo F., Perálvarez-Marín A., Diez J. and Valverde M.A. (2018). The TRPV4 channel links calcium influx to DDX3X activity and viral infectivity. Nature Communications (2018) 9:2307; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04776-7.
2. Carlos Pardo-Pastor, Fanny Rubio-Moscardo, Marina Vogel-González, Selma A. Serra, Alexandros Afthinos, Sanela Mrkonjic, Olivier Destaing, Juan F. Abenza, José M. Fernández-Fernández, Xavier Trepat, Corinne Albiges-Rizo, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Miguel A. Valverde (2018). Piezo2 channel regulates RhoA and actin cytoskeleton to promote cell mechanobiological responses. PNAS (U.S.A.) 115(8), 1925-1930.

Project and Institution that finance the contract
“MECHANO/OSMOSENSITIVE ION CHANNELS IN SHORT- AND LONG-TERM CELLULAR FUNCTIONS”, funded by “The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities” (cofunded by FEDER, UE)
Official number reference
RTI2018-099718 B100

Information on the minimum requirements
Candidates must have obtained a University Degree and a Master’s Degree in natural or medical sciences (Biology, Medicine, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Biophysics,…), within the European Higher Education System (min. 300 ECTS), or an equivalent university degree, of at least 300 ECTS, that would allow the candidate to start a PhD thesis in their home country by May-June 2020; candidates who expect to be awarded such degree in order to be accepted in our PhD Programme in Biomedicine by May-June 2020 are eligible to apply. Candidates are advised to check that they fulfil the requirements for admission to the UPF PhD in Biomedicine as those who do not fulfil these requirements will be considered ineligible.
Candidates will be required to present their academic record and those who obtained their degree and/ or Master’s in a country other than Spain will have to include the conversion of their grades to the Spanish 0-10 scale. Candidates must have excellent academic qualifications and good command of English. Research experience in the field of ion channels, mechanobiology and/or neurodegeneratios along with authorship of scientific publications will be a plus.

 Benefits of the opening
The UPF’s PhD programme in Biomedicine follows the latest regulations for doctoral studies in Spain, the so-called Royal Decree (RD) 99/2011, which were introduced to comply with the guidelines and recommendations of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) on doctoral studies. The contents of this doctoral programme have been accredited by the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU Catalonia) with the highest qualification of progressing towards excellence. Successful candidates will have access to a wide range of academic activities, as well as ad hoc training in specific scientific skills; UPF and PRBB seminars, conferences and symposia; and career development courses, not only at UPF, but also through the PRBB Intervals Programme, an interdisciplinary education programme for professionals working in the PRBB.
Fellowship will be funded by the Spanish National Sub-Programme for Training during 4 years, and the successful candidate will be registered in the Spanish Social Security System, which provides health and occupational insurance coverage. Academic costs (except fees) are also covered.