PhD position in the MSCA Doctoral Network “MobiliTraIN”

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/196762

Offer Description
Inserm offers a PhD position in the framework of the MSCA Doctoral Network MobiliTraIN (Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Training Network). The project aims to bring a new fundamental understanding of ion mobility-high resolution mass spectrometry (IM-HRMS), provide reference materials and guidelines for standardisation, develop state-of-the-art methods for the application of IM-HRMS in biopharmaceutical development, biological omics studies and non-target screening of contaminants, and lay the foundations for the adoption of IM-HRMS in industry by training 13 doctoral candidates.

PhD project description: The PhD project offered aims to 1) Transpose workflows for bottom-up epitranscriptomics (analysis of RNA modifications) on an ion mobility-Q-TOF plat-form, inspired by workflows for bottom-up proteomics; 2) Establish what are the advantages of ion mobility separation (a) in terms of filtering and throughput and (b) in terms of structural insight on the modifications themselves or systematic effects of modifications on oligonucleotide structures. 3) Apply this knowledge in cancer biology: get novel insight into the effect of tRNA modifications in cancer, in particular cancer adaptation (metastasis and therapy).

Secondments: This project is carried out in strong collaboration with the following groups, and visits to their laboratories are expected during the project. A willingness to travel and spend time abroad is therefore essential.

1) Host: Bruker; Supervisor: Oliver Raether; Timing: M18-M20; Length: 3 months; Purpose: Get hands-on training in the latest developments in PASEF for proteomics.

2) Host: UNIGE; Supervisor: Valérie Gabelica; Timing: M30-M32; Length: 3 months; Purpose: For selected modified tRNA involved in cancer, test the influence of modifications on the full-length tRNA or on biologically-relevant fragments, longer than those typically obtained by bottom-up workflows.