MSCA-PF 2025 at UPO (Seville, Spain): Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Regulating Stem Cell Be[...]

euraxess.ec.europa.eu - Jobboard; España; Presencial; EUR 30.000 - 40.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Pablo de Olavide University offers a postdoctoral position in Seville, Spain, focusing on stem cell research in Drosophila. Join a vibrant research group and contribute to advancing our understanding of cellular mechanisms while benefiting from a supportive environment and mentorship opportunities. Candidates must hold a recent PhD and show motivation to engage in cutting-edge research.

Servicios

Mentoring for career development

Opportunity to present at meetings

Supportive research environment

Formación

• Must possess a PhD obtained within the last 8 years.
• Willing to learn and apply new methods.
• Experience in life sciences is beneficial.

Responsabilidades

• Conduct research on stem cell biology in Drosophila.
• Utilize advanced laboratory techniques for experiments.
• Collaborate with research groups on ongoing projects.

Conocimientos

Motivation

Novel experimental approaches

Communication skills

Educación

PhD

Herramientas

Genetic manipulation

Confocal microscopy

Gene expression quantification

Transcriptomics

Descripción del empleo

Organisation / Company Universidad Pablo de Olavide Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Research talent attraction initiative at UPO:

The Pablo de Olavide University (UPO) in Seville (Spain) offers positions for researchers interested in implementing a 2- to 3-year project based in Spain within the framework of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships programme (MSCA-2025-PF).

Top candidates who secure the support of a Supervisor at UPO will have the opportunity to participate in an initiative designed to provide specialized training on how to write a successful proposal for the upcoming MSCA-PF call. You are eligible to apply if, by the deadline for submission of MSCA-PF proposals (September 10, 2025): (1) You are in possession of a doctoral degree and obtained your PhD no more than 8 years ago; (2) You comply with the MSCA mobility rule; (3) You choose Pablo de Olavide University as your Host Institution.

We are pleased to support highly qualified candidates who are interested in any of our research areas and meet the MSCA eligibility criteria.

Brief profile of the Centre / Research Group / Lab / PI:

The Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD) is a joint research institute affiliated with the Pablo de Olavide University (UPO), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the Andalusian Government. It is physically located on the UPO campus and closely integrated into its academic and research activities.

The CABD hosts a number of groups with interests on different areas encompassing the fields of Genetics, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Evolution and Modelling of biological processes. A number of model organisms, ranging from unicellular prokaryotes and eukaryotes to insects, nematodes, vertebrates, cells in culture and organoids are studied at the CABD utilising state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. The CABD has been recognized twice with the “María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence Award” by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

The homeostasis of many tissues relies on residing stem cells. Throughout life, stem cell pools are dynamic and respond to insults and environmental changes. For example, depleted pools can be replenished and certain physiological or pathological conditions can induce stem cell proliferation. This plasticity is facilitated by intrinsic properties of tissues and to inter-organ communication mechanisms that translate physiological states and environmental cues into molecular signals. Stem cells are located within specialized micro-environments called niches, known to regulate stem cell numbers and behaviour.

The ovary of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster represents an excellent model to study stem cell biology. The female germline stem cells (GSCs), found in cellular niches, are responsible for the generation of female gametes. GSC proliferation and numbers are closely dependent on the female’s age but they are also subject to regulation by organs such as the brain, the gut and the adipose tissue. During ageing, the number of stem cells found in the ovarian niche in the female Drosophila decreases. In an effort to identify novel mechanisms involved in stem cell niche ageing, we have recently identified key changes in gene expression and alternative splicing occurring in ovarian niche support cells during the course of ageing. In addition, our research has determined the social interactions that male adults experience can affect the stem cell biology of their gonads and the physiology of the entire organism. We proved that, after sensing the presence of females through pheromones, an activation state is triggered in the two stem cell populations of the testis, increasing their proliferation. These social inputs are transduced to the testis by an inter-organ communication network implicating signals released from the brain and the muscle – Octopamine, homologous to the Noradrenalin of vertebrates, and Egr/TNFα respectively.

The new researcher will make use of the available wealth of data and tools to advance our understanding of the cellular, genetic and molecular mechanisms behind niche homeostasis in Drosophila ovaries and testis. The candidate will be part of a collaborative effort between two dynamic and interactive groups at the CABD, a leading centre in Developmental Biology.

Our groups utilize the male and female gonads of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to study the biology of stem cells and their relationship with the environment, their physiology and gamete morphogenesis. Techniques commonly used in the laboratory include genetic manipulation of cell populations, confocal microscopy, live imaging, gene expression quantification, transcriptomics, biophysical measurements, machine-learning approaches and behavioural analysis. Within the CABD, we make use of the Genomics and Proteomics Services available in-house.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate willing to learn new concepts, apply novel experimental approaches and test unconventional ideas. The host laboratory will provide a scientifically vibrant, supportive and friendly environment as well as the necessary infrastructure. The candidate will have the opportunity to present their work at internal and external meetings to improve their communication skills and give visibility to the work. We will also provide the necessary mentoring for the career development of the candidate and for achieving independence and technical mastery.

Research area:

• Life Sciences

Documents to be submitted by potential applicants:

Contact Person / Scientist in Charge

• Name and Surname: Dr. Acaimo GONZÁLEZ-REYES