Master thesis in gene technology at KTH: Development of a specialized cell

We are looking for a student that would like to perform a Master thesis project (30 hp) or similar at the Division of Gene Technology headed by Joakim Lundeberg, during autumn 2010. We are looking for students that are able to work independently enjoy new challenges and would like to contribute to a rapidly moving research environment. If you enjoy learning new things, this is the master thesis for you!

In this study, we aim to biologically understand how cells retain their developmental destiny, by making a network describing what each part of an embryo becomes at later stages of development. Knowing more about developmental biology could help solve unanswered questions in stem cell biology, tissue repair, aging and cancer. The first fate map present was made by JE Sulston 1983 based on observations of the embryogenesis of the transparent worm C. elegans using a microscope. Twenty years later he received the Nobel price for this work. Since then, various methods of studying cell lineage within an organism have been developed, including the study of genetic chimeras and the introduction of a dye/radioactive/genetic marker to particular cells of an embryo and then studying the outcome. In this project we will utilize massively parallel sequencing for investigation of cells in an individual to further answer these questions.
You will learn confocal microscopy and various molecular biology tools as well as clean room (pre-PCR)-procedure, animal cell culturing and qPCR. You will also learn about present methods for massively parallel sequencing and basic bioinformatics.


The practical work will be performed at the newly started Science for Life laboratory (www.scilifelab.se) nearby the Karolinska Institute.


Contact
Are you interested, please contact Julia Sandberg email: [email protected], phone: +46 (8) 524 8148