A PhD position in the framework of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network “INCITE– Insect Clock Initial Training Experience”

The interplay between circadian clocks and complex behaviours in a key bumble bee pollinator  

Objectives: To investigate the influence of clock genes on complex behaviours in a model bumble bee.

Social bumble bees and honey bees are key pollinators in natural and agricultural systems in Europe and globally. Behavioural studies implicated the circadian clock in complex behaviours such as time memory, sun compass orientation, temporal colony coordination and division of labour, which are necessary for colony efficiency and successful foraging for flowers,  and crop pollination. Our specific objectives are: 1) Establish a Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID) system which allows high resolution tracking of individuals freely foraging bumble bees in the field. This system will complement lab-based systems already established in our lab. 2) We will establish an in vitro system for artificial rearing of bumble bees that will be used to rear embryos subjected to DNA editing. 3) We will develop RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 DNA editing protocols to knockdown/knockout clock genes in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris. 4) We will use our CRISPR/Cas9 protocol to edit clock genes in the haploid bumble bee male embryos, and characterize their circadian behaviour when reaching the adult stage. 5) We will use immunocytochemical (ICC) and molecular approaches to study the influence of clock gene mutations on the organization and function of the molecular clockwork. 6) We will use genetic crossing to generate clock mutant queens. We will study time memory and other circadian behaviours in mutant offspring workers of these queens. Additional secondments are planned to BCAS to learn mutagenesis in non-model insects and UNI KASSEL for ICC experiments.

Benefits

• Successful candidates will be part of an international and interdisciplinary network with regular meetings and a strong cohort-effect of fellow PhD students

• Internships/secondments in other INCITE member labs are an integral part of the programme

• Intense training in chronobiology and related disciplines by leading experts in the field

• Competitive salary

The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 to 48 months. In addition to their individual scientific projects, all doctoral candidates will benefit from accompanying education and career development measures, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.

Selection process

Our selection procedure is open, transparent, merit-based and in line with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Candidates should submit the following documents as one single PDF file via email to [email protected] for one to maximum five positions and indicate their preference.

• a detailed CV

• a motivation letter

• two letters of reference

• English transcripts of bachelor and, if applicable, master degrees

• an English language certificate.

• no more than 12 months of residence in the host country in the last 3 years

The candidates will be selected to fit the best for the different projects through the following steps:

Host supervisor: Prof Guy Bloch

Host institution: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

For more details on our lab please consult with our webpage or contact Guy directly at [email protected]