PhD position in Epigenetics and Gene Regulation (1.0 FTE)

A multitude of DNA sequence-dependent and -independent interactions between transcriptional regulators and the genome are required for tissue-specific gene expression and cell identity. Interference or lack of specificity in this process results in defective embryonic development and can give rise to various human diseases, including cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms that mediate precise protein-genome interactions and specific regulation of genes are not fully understood. One particular layer that regulates these processes is chromatin. Chemical modifications of histones and DNA contribute to gene expression control through influencing the recruitment of regulatory factors to specific regions in the genome.

We aim to understand how epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, influence protein-genome interactions, and how this results in specific gene expression programs.

In this PhD project you will be responsible for:

• combining multiple omics technologies for genome-wide analysis of chromatin-protein interactions;
• manipulation of chromatin and gene expression in stem cells and during their differentiation;
• CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering of embryonic stem cells;
• data integration and computational analysis of genome-wide and/or proteomics data.