PhD position in Gene Regulation

Cell identity relies on correct gene expression, so the process of transcription is tightly regulated. During early elongation of RNA Polymerase II, it is likely to terminate. Early termination has a big impact on transcriptional output, but how it’s regulated is poorly understood. The Vlaming group aims to understand what drives early termination vs productive elongation. To this end, we use cutting-edge nascent-RNA sequencing techniques, high-throughput screening and precise genome editing.

Your job
You will join the Vlaming lab, within the Genome Biology & Epigenetics division. The aim of your PhD project is to learn the mechanisms through which specific proteins regulate early transcription termination. For example, the lab is interested in ZC3H4 (part of ‘Restrictor’), which you can read about in our recent publication.

To achieve your goal, you will use different approaches, including but not limited to:

• RNA sequencing techniques (e.g. RNA-seq, TT-seq, PRO-seq);
• Proximity labeling approaches and pulldowns;
• Chromatin Immonuprecipitation (ChIP);
• Genome editing, e.g. to (degron) tag proteins of interest;
• Bioinformatic analysis of generated sequencing data.

During your PhD, you will learn about the field of gene regulation, expand our knowledge through your experiments and analyses, hone your critical thinking skills and develop into an independent scientist. You will carefully document your findings and share them with others, for example in lab meetings, at conferences, and through writing papers. As part of our team, you will contribute to an enthusiastic, collaborative and respectful environment, in which we can perform high-quality research together.

You share our enthusiasm for gene regulation, and are motivated to push beyond the boundaries of what we know. We are looking for a colleague who meets the following criteria:

• a MSc degree in (molecular) biology, or a related discipline (obtained, or expected in the near future);
• demonstrable experience with basic molecular biology techniques;
• affinity for (or ideally experience with) bioinformatics;
• proficiency in academic English, both spoken and written;
• prior experience (e.g. internship) in the field of gene regulation / chromatin biology is an asset.

• a position for a total of four years, starting with an initial 18-month contract, extendable to the full term upon successful assessment during this period.
• a fulltime working week of 38 hours (1,0 fte) and a gross monthly salary between €3,059 and €3,881 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employmentlaid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

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You will work in the group of Dr Hanneke Vlaming in the Genome Biology and Epigenetics (GBE) division of the department of Biology. GBE forms a multidisciplinary and interconnected team of researchers interested in studying various aspects of gene regulation. We work closely together with the other groups in GBE, led by Professor Tuncay Baubec (chromatin readers & writers, DNA methylation), Dr Severin Uebbing (evolution of enhancers), and Dr Vivek Bhardwaj (single-cell multi-omics). GBE offers a stimulating, collaborative, and international environment. Become part of the team!