Plant RAD60 in SUMO-dependent genome stability signaling

The project will focus on the functional characterization of a newly discovered plant homolog of theRAD60protein, a putative mediator of SUMO-dependent genome stability pathways. The PhD candidate will investigate how RAD60 contributes to SUMOylation-dependent signaling during the DNA damage response and how this impacts chromatin organization and genome stability in Arabidopsis.

Our central question is how SUMOylation modulates the DNA damage responses, a phenomenon only poorly described in plants (Dvorak Tomastikova et al., 2023). 

Keywords: DNA damage, Arabidopsis, SUMO, proximitylabelling

Send CV and motivation letter to Eva Dvorak Tomastikova tomastikova@ueb.cas.cz

Pecinka group website: olomouc.ueb.cas.cz/en/research-groups/pecinka-group
Bluesky (@pecinka-grp.bsky.social, @evadt.bsky.social)
X (@pecinka_grp)

What we need from you:

• Master’s degree in molecular biology or a related field 
• Solid hands-on experience with basic molecular biology and/or plant experimental work 
• Strong motivation for experimental research in genome stability
• Good written and spoken English, the ability to work independently and in an international team.

What we’ll give you:

• Ph.D. student salary (University stipend + 0.8 contract at the Institute of Experimental Botany), social and health insurance, 25 days of vacations and other benefits
• Work in an active, collaborative group studying how chromatin factors control plant development, stress resistance, and genome stability.
• Access to multidisciplinary community of SUMO researchers across Europe for collaborations