Descripción: The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) is a cutting-edge institute addressing global public health challenges through research, translation into policy and education.
ISGlobal has a broad research portfolio in communicable and non-communicable diseases, ranging from basic research at the molecular level to studies at the population level.
ISGlobal is accredited with the Severo Ochoa distinction, a seal of excellence of the Spanish Science Ministry.
Lugar: Barcelona
What We Are Looking for: Wet lab profiles, Bioinformatician profiles
The team: The ISGlobal Malaria Epigenetics lab directed by ICREA Research Professor Alfred Cortés investigates the regulation of gene expression in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
We use a combination of approaches that include genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 technology, state-of-the-art phenotypic characterisation and multi-omic approaches.
Our ultimate goal is to generate high-quality basic knowledge that is relevant for the fight against malaria.
About the project: Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the most severe forms of human malaria.
Transcriptional regulation plays a key role in malaria parasite biology, as it controls fundamental processes such as life cycle progression, antigenic variation and adaptation to the conditions of the environment.
Some of these processes are regulated at the epigenetic level, with a key role for euchromatin-heterochromatin transitions.
Of note, heterochromatin plays a prominent role in the regulation of the conversion of some asexual parasites into sexual forms that mediate transmission to mosquito vectors.
Another important process regulated at the transcriptional level is the heat-shock response, which enables parasite survival during malaria febrile episodes.
Wet lab profiles: On the day to day, the main experimental techniques used for this project will include culture and manipulation of P. falciparum (including genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9), state-of-the-art transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses, and advanced phenotypic characterisation using functional assays, among many others.
In addition, this project will involve establishing and optimising in our laboratory several new techniques, including CUT&TAG;, Hi-C / UMI-4C, single-cell omics and proximity labelling, with support from our collaborators.
Bioinformatician profiles: As part of this project, we will generate a large amount of multiomic data.
The bioinformatician will use bioinformatic tools to analyse and integrate large multiomic datasets generated by other members of the team.
While we have already established robust pipelines for the analysis of P. falciparum RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data, new pipelines for the analysis of CUT&TAG;, Hi-C / UMI-4C and single-cell omics data will have to be developed.
Novel, creative approaches will be needed for the analysis of some complex datasets.
The bioinformatician will also work on the integration of the different omic datasets, and use previously published datasets available in public repositories.
We consider it very important to establish fluent communication between bioinformaticians and wet lab scientists.
Field research: Biological sciences
Training and experience / Qualifications: Wet lab profiles: a MSc in a discipline related to molecular and cellular biology (or a BSc that qualifies to start a PhD); Bioinformatician profiles: a MSc in bioinformatics or a closely related discipline (or a BSc that qualifies to start a PhD).
Specific Requirements: Ability to work both autonomously and in close collaboration with other members of a team; High level of enthusiasm and motivation; passion for science!
Previous research expertise in malaria and/or in regulation of gene expression/chromatin biology is desirable but not essential.
Wet lab profiles: Skills for establishing and optimising new molecular techniques; Bioinformatics skills are desirable but not essential.
Bioinformatician profiles: Strong background in bioinformatic analysis of omics data; Programming skills in R, Python, etc; Interest in understanding the biology associated with the omic data analysed.
Key Responsibilities:
Wet lab profiles:Experiments with P. falciparum cultures (including advanced phenotypic characterisation of sexual conversion, heat-shock resistance and drug survival)Generation of transgenic parasite lines using CRISPR/Cas9 technologyMolecular and cellular biology experiments (generation of plasmids, RT-qPCR, RNA-seq, ChIP-qPCR, ChIP-seq, IFA, etc)Contribute to optimisation of new techniques in the team, including new omic approaches (CUT&TAG;, Hi-C/UMI-4C, single-cell omics, proximity labelling)Data analysis and preparation of manuscriptsPresent results in scientific conferencesContribute to scientific discussion and to training of new members of the team
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