Graduate Assistant in Plant Molecular Biology

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

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Presentation

The Majda Lab at the Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, is seeking a PhD student to investigate how physical constraints shape plant growth across scales, from cell walls to individual cells, tissues, and organs.

Plants grow while their cells remain connected within a tissue, which means that each cell expands under the influence of its own cell wall properties, its cell-cycle state, and the mechanical constraints imposed by neighboring cells. This project will study how endoreduplication, a modified cell cycle in which cells increase their DNA content without dividing, contributes to this process. The project will use Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system to examine how cells transition from division to expansion and how this transition affects tissue growth. The PhD student will investigate how altered endoreduplication changes cell wall organization, cell elongation, and tissue mechanics. The work will combine molecular genetics, transgenic reporter lines, confocal and time-lapse imaging, biomechanical measurements, and quantitative image analysis. The goal is to connect gene activity and cell-cycle state with measurable changes in wall properties, mechanical behavior, and coordinated growth.

This position is well suited for a motivated student who wants to develop a rigorous experimental project at the interface of plant development, cell biology, imaging, and biomechanics. The student will receive training in plant molecular biology, live imaging, quantitative phenotyping, and biomechanical approaches, with the opportunity to study how growth emerges from interactions between genes, cells, and tissue-level constraints.

At least half of the working time will be dedicated to doctoral research. The remaining time will be devoted to academic duties, including teaching assistance for undergraduate biology students.

Environment

The Majda Lab offers an interdisciplinary research environment at the interface of plant biology, biomechanics, and quantitative biology. The lab has access to advanced confocal imaging, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, transcriptomics platforms, and biomechanical tools including extensometry, micro-indentation, atomic force microscopy, as well as image processing and modeling software.

Job information

Expected start date in position : to be agreed

Contract length : 1 year, renewable 2 x 2 years, maximum 5 years

Activity rate : 90%

Workplace : Lausanne-Dorigny

Your qualifications

Applicants should hold a Master's degree in plant biology, molecular biology, biophysics, bioinformatics, or a related field. A strong interest in genetics, quantitative biology, mechanobiology, or plant development would be valuable. We are looking for a curious, motivated, and enthusiastic candidate who is eager to learn new approaches and work across disciplines.

What the position offers you

We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment. Opportunities for professional training, a lot of activities and other benefits to discover.

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