Molecular Biology PhD position - Barcelona

There is an opening for a graduate student to develop a PhD thesis project under the supervision of
Joaquim Roca at the DNA Topology Lab of the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMBCSIC).
The research project will examine the implication of DNA topoisomerase II in the formation and
resolution of DNA knots in yeast cells. Topoisomerase II is an essential and highly conserved
enzyme since it resolves the topological problems of DNA arising during transcription, replication
and chromosome segregation. The plausible role of topoisomerase II to modulate the degree of
DNA knotting in vivo had not been so far investigated, and it might have deep implications for local
chromatin architecture and global chromosome structure of eukaryotes.

Candidates should possess B.Sc./M.Sc. in Life Sciences (biology, biomedicine, biochemistry or
similar) obtained after January 1st 2008. The minimal academic requirement is an average mark of
1.6 according to the Spanish rating system. Candidates from EU-member states can also apply. In
these cases, they should check the conversion of their academic marks as indicated by the Spanish
Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN).

Interested candidates should send their CV and arrange an interview with Joaquim Roca before
December 2011. A short list of preselected candidates will be asked to apply for the FPI grant
(“Formación de Personal Investigador”) assigned to the Project BFU2011-23851 from MICINN. The
call is expected to be published by the end of 2011/beginning of 2012 and the start of the fellowship
should be in summer-fall of 2012. The total period of the grant will be 48 months (2-year fellowship
plus 2-year contract).

Further information

Joaquim Roca (IBMB-CSIC)
joaquim.roca@ibmb.csic.es
www.ibmb.csic.es
www.cid.csic.es/homes/roca