Rabu, 28 Januari 2009

UK; PhD Studentship School of Immunity & Infection

UK; PhD Studentship School of Immunity & Infection
Characterisation of multi-drug and efflux inhibitor-resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Professor Laura Piddock/Professor Mark Pallen

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of respiratory and invasive infections. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. pneumoniae is increasing in many countries. Chromosomally encoded efflux pumps confer innate resistance to multiple antibiotics. In S. pneumoniae two genes encoding ABC transporters (efflux pumps) patA and patB were shown to be over-expressed in a laboratory MDR mutant selected after antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) exposure (1,2).

Our most recent work indicates that increased expression of patA and patB occurs in ~50% of ciprofloxacin and/or MDR S. pneumoniae isolated from people. Use of efflux pump inhibitors provides a promising route to combating multidrug resistance, however we have also selected mutant S. pneumoniae resistant to the inhibitor reserpine (3). However, the cause of the increased expression of these two genes and concomitant enhanced efflux of multiple substrates has not been defined.

UK; PhD Studentship School of Immunity & Infection

Rabu, 21 Januari 2009

Scholarships for Developing Countries in Switzerland 2009

Scholarships for Developing Countries, Scholarships for Developing Countries 2009, Developing Countries Scholarship 2009, Scholarship for Developing Countries 2009, Developing Countries Phd Scholarship 2009

Berkeley Labs has an opportunity for a Post Doc to synthesize and characterize electrode materials for Li-ion batteries in support of the BATT Program (Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies). This position is expected to conduct research to investigate new compounds with interesting properties and evaluate improvements of the performance of well-known candidates through the control of the micro/nanostructure of the materials using different synthetic methodologies. The BATT group is a diverse research group consisting of both theorists and experimentalists aiming to develop the next-generation batteries for use in electric, hybrid-electric, and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles.

As a Chemist Post Doc, you will:

  • Synthesize different compounds using both classic and novel synthetic techniques, with emphasis on those that allow the tailoring of the material at the nanoscale.
  • Characterize the crystal, micro and nanostructure of the materials using powder diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, solid state NMR, specific surface area measurements, as well as synchrotron radiation-based techniques.
  • Evaluate the properties of the materials as electrodes and investigate the factors that influence their performance (e.g. phase transformations, kinetic and thermodynamic properties, micro/nanostructural features) using electrochemical techniques such as cycling tests, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry.
  • Analyze and present results in the form of manuscripts and reports. Make presentations at scientific meetings and internal seminars.
  • Carry out collaborative research with research associates, post-doctoral fellows, visiting scientists and students with frequent meetings and discussions.
  • Collaborate in the development of research proposals and new scientific initiatives.
QUALIFICATIONS:

  • A recent Ph.D. in chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field.
  • Expertise in solid-state chemistry, especially in the synthesis of nanometric materials, crystallography and transmission electron microscopy.
  • Knowledge of rechargeable battery chemistry, and familiarity with electroanalytical techniques.
  • Exceptionally good written and oral communication skills.
  • The ability to work as an independent researcher with a high level of scientific judgment and initiative.
  • Participation in collaborative efforts as a member of a diverse research team.


Notes

This is a full-time, one-year appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon performance and continuation of funding. This position will be open until filled.

To apply: For complete job description and consideration, please apply online at http://jobs.lbl.gov/LBNLCareers/details.asp?jid=22572&p=1sid=2106. Berkeley Lab is an AA/EOE committed to the development of a diverse workforce.


Selasa, 20 Januari 2009

Fulbright Presidential Scholarship Program 2009

Fulbright Presidential Scholarship Program (Ph.D. Program)
AMINEF

The American Indonesia Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) is pleased to announce the availability of approximately 40 new Fulbright scholarships under the aegis of the Fulbright Presidential Scholarship Program to pursue Ph.D. degree in the United States for the 2009-2010 academic year. The Fulbright Program in Indonesia promotes mutual understanding between the Republic of Indonesia and the United States of America through educational exchange and academic scholarship. Fulbright scholarships are available to Indonesian citizens with the appropriate qualifications as stipulated in the program descriptions listed below.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS

Preference will be given to applicants who serve or plan to serve as faculty members of state and private institutions of higher education in Indonesia and have not previously received any Fulbright scholarship.

Applicants will possess:

* a Master€  '²s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.00 scale).
* demonstrated leadership qualities.
* a good understanding of Indonesian and other cultures.
* a deep commitment to the chosen field of study.
* a determination to return to Indonesia upon completion of the Fulbright program and to take up academic positions in higher education upon their return.
* a TOEFL score.

Note: Based on recent changes in US institution requirements, the TOEFL requirement for this program has been changed. The new requirement is as follows: "Generally, the TOEFL requirement for PhD program is 575 and above. However, in certain fields a score of 550 and above will be considered."

* (Grant duration is 3 years.)
DISCIPLINES

All disciplines and fields of study are eligible for a Fulbright award. Priority fields are: Social Sciences, Religious Studies, Science and Engineering, Law, and Education€  '·specifically, English Teaching and Higher Education Administration.
HOW TO APPLY

Candidates should complete the appropriate application forms. Forms are available either by mail or in person at the AMINEF Office, Gedung Balai Pustaka, 6th floor, Jl. Gunung Sahari Raya 4, Jakarta 10720.

Please return to AMINEF your complete application package by the application deadline that includes:

* Completed application form. This includes a clearly written and concise study objective.
* Copy of your most recent, less than two years old, TOEFL score report.
* One letter of reference, either from your current employer or previous lecturer.
* Copy of academic transcript (English translation).
* Copy of identity document (KTP or passport).

CONTACT INFORMATION

Specific questions regarding the application process are accepted via e-mail at the following address: infofulbright_ind@aminef.or.id

. We do not accept email applications. Hard copies must be sent or delivered to American Indonesian Exchange Foundation.
DEADLINE


The deadline for the submission of application materials for this program is May 31, 2009.

Note: Program requirements are subject to change without notice.

To download form click here
http://www.aminef.or.id/file/fulbright/2009%20FULBRIGHT%20APPLICATION%20FORM.doc

For more information please visit:
http://www.aminef.or.id/fulbright.php?site=fulbright&m=ip-pro-phd-phdpresidential


Scholarship Info 2009

Jumat, 19 Desember 2008

Rio Tinto Scholarship Fund - Graduate Program

PT. Rio Tinto Indonesia in collaboration with Sampoerna Foundation
provides one (1) qualified individual with the opportunity to pursue a
Master's degree in Science, Social Science or Commerce at the University
of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.



Upon completing the program, scholar is under a (n+1) binding program
with PT. Rio Tinto Indonesia, where n = the number of years receiving
the scholarship grant. The scholar must apply their knowledge and
contribute significantly to PT. Rio Tinto Indonesia for (n+1) year.



Application deadline is January 30, 2009.





Basic Eligibility



Applicant must satisfy ALL of the following conditions:

*       Indonesian citizen who is under 35 years of age when lodging the
application.
*       Hold a local Bachelor's degree from any discipline with a
minimum Grade Point Average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale).
*       Have a minimum of two-year full-time professional work
experience after the completion of the undergraduate degree.
*       Submit the required English language requirement (TOEFL/ IELTS)
and the Graduate Admission Test as required by each program, after the
applicant is selected as the scholarship finalists:

-          International TOEFL with a minimum score of 577 (PBT) or 233
(CBT) or 90 (IBT), OR

-          International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of
minimum 6.5

*       Adhere with the scholarship rules and regulations, particularly
in the (n+1) binding program with PT. Rio Tinto Indonesia.
*       Currently did not enroll in graduate or post-graduate program,
or obtained a Master's degree or equivalent.
*       Did not enroll or graduate from an overseas tertiary
institution, unless was on a full scholarship.
*       Do not receive other equivalent award or scholarship offering
similar or other benefits at the time of the award.
*       Demonstrate that without the scholarship, applicant is not able
to afford an Overseas Graduate Program.





Scholarship Value



The scholarship's worth is approximately AUD 68,000.- depending on the
program's fee, for the duration of study. This covers the following:

*       Graduate Admission Test and TOEFL/ IELTS reimbursement, one time
only, based on original invoice, for the test taken no more than 6
months prior to the scholarship application;
*       University application fee;
*       Student visa application fee;
*       Return airfares from Jakarta to Sydney
*       Tuition fees, for the duration of study;
*       Living allowance, to support living costs during period of
study;
*       Literature allowance, to purchase textbooks required for study.





How to Apply?



Download the application package (application, reference and health
information forms) at
http://www.sampoernafoundation.org/content/view/1334/139/lang,en, or
obtained it from:

Sampoerna Foundation

Sampoerna Strategic Square

North Tower, 26th - 27th Floor

Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kavling 45

Jakarta 12930



When submitting the application package, please write "Rio Tinto-S2" at
the top right hand corner of the envelope. Sampoerna Foundation will
consider the completed applications and will notify the short-listed
applicants to attend the continuing stages of the selection process.



Interested applicants who meet the requirements must complete and return
the application package by the deadline (January 30, 2009) to Sampoerna
Foundation office. E-mail applications will not be considered.





Further Information



Prospective applicants are advised to directly contact the University of
New South Wales (UNSW) directly or Australian Education Center (AEC) to
find out about the admission process and requirements for an enrolment.



Applicants' inquiries about the scholarship (requirements, conditions,
coverage, etc.) should be directed to Sampoerna Foundation (62 21
5772340/ ella.cecilia@sampoernafoundation.org).









Regards,



Ella Cecillia

Program Department



Putera Sampoerna Foundation

Sampoerna Strategic Square, North Tower, 26th Floor

Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav.45, Jakarta 12930

Phone: 62 21 5772340 ext. 7130/ Fax. 62 21 5772341

E-mail: ella.cecilia@sampoernafoundation.org

Website: www.sampoernafoundation.org

Jumat, 12 Desember 2008

UK; Postgraduate Studentship on Mathematical

Postgraduate Studentship


Mathematical modelling of self-propelled cell motion on biomaterial
surfaces


Department of Mathematics


STUDENTSHIP covers fees (University and College) and maintenance.

Applications are invited for a postgraduate studentship, funded by the
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Global Research
Partnership [KAUST GRP], to work on "Mathematical modelling of
self-propelled cell motion on biomaterial surfaces" under the
supervision of Dr Jim Oliver, Dr Sarah Waters (OCIAM) and Dr Jonathan
Whiteley (CBG). This DPhil studentship will start on 1 October 2009, is
available to all nationalities, covers maintenance and full overseas
fees and will be based in the newly established Oxford Centre for
Collaborative Applied Mathematics (OCCAM).

OCCAM has been established with substantial funding from the KAUST GRP.
The Centre, which is part of the Mathematical Institute, will be allied
to a global network of mathematicians. Aiming to meet the
ever-increasing global demand for quantitative understanding of complex
scientific phenomena, OCCAM has been built on the strength of four
pre-existing groups of applied and computational mathematicians working
in Oxford: the Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the
Centre for Mathematical Biology, the Numerical Analysis Group and the
Computational Biology Group. It has a symbiotic relationship with other
scientific communities which have a need for problem-solving mathematics
both within the University of Oxford and beyond. Over the first five
years the centre will employ 40 new staff and students.

The successful colonization of a medical implant device depends on the
early response of the host's cells to the implant surface. The
commercial development of the next generation of devices will therefore
benefit from a more quantitative understanding of the mechanisms
involved in the adhesion and migration of a single mammalian cell over a
biomaterial surface. We have developed two long-wavelength multiphase
reactive flow models of the cell's motile machinery. The models are
based on poroviscous generalizations of the thin-film equation in
lubrication theory and of the Trouton equations in extensional flow
theory. The main aims of this project are: (i) to develop robust
numerical algorithms to solve the two-dimensional versions of these
challenging free boundary problems; and (ii) to calibrate and test their
predictions by direct comparison with data from the in vitro cell
systems obtained by our experimental collaborators.

The collaborators involved in this project are Professor David Grant, Dr
Colin Scotchford (Bioengineering Group, University of Nottingham) and
Professor John King (School of Mathematical Sciences, University of
Nottingham).

The studentship is attached to Jesus College.

For information about OCCAM please visit our website:
www.maths.ox.ac.uk/occam

Applications can be made online at
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/how_to_apply.html and
should include a CV, covering letter, three references and a transcript
of your undergraduate degree. Alternatively, applications can be sent to
Margret Sloper at the Mathematical Institute using the University's
application form for graduate study, which can be downloaded from the
above link. Applications must arrive by end of day Friday 27th February
2009. The reference for this application is BK/08/057; make sure that
you state this in the covering letter. Applicants must arrange for their
referees to send references directly to the Graduate Studies Assistant
(fax or e-mail is sufficient) by the closing date. For further details
about the projects, including the application process, please see the
Further Particulars link below, or contact Graduate Studies, email
graduate.studies@maths.ox.ac.uk

                                                     Oxford University
is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Postgraduate Studentship


Rabu, 10 Desember 2008

FINLAND; 4-year PhD Position: Social Behaviour in Eider Ducks

PhD position (4 years) - ARONIA Research Institute at Åbo Akademi
University
Novia University of Applied Sciences, Finland

INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY, COOPERATIVENESS AND CONSEQUENCES OF PARTNER
CHOICE
Project leader Markus Öst

Like humans, animals too have personalities, some of them being bold
and brave, while others are shy and softy. These differences have
traditionally been explained away as noise surrounding adaptive
population-average behaviour. Recent theory has aimed at adaptively
explaining this variability. However, little is known about whether
personality affects the tendency to cooperate with others, and whether
the mixture of personality types in socially breeding groups has fitness
consequences. These open questions can best be addressed by an
integrative approach, since genetics and individual state influence
endocrine mechanisms that govern behaviour.

This four-year project funded by Academy of Finland aims to 1)
demonstrate the existence of personalities, 2) relate personality and
physiological stress response to parental care strategy and parental
quality and state and 3) explore the distribution of personalities in
cooperative groups and its fitness consequences. The model species is
the eider duck (Somateria mollissima), where females show a variety of
parental care strategies, ranging from solo care to joint care with
other females.

Fecal steroid analyses are ideal for studying hormone-behaviour
relationships. It has previously been shown that stress responses relate
to personalities and dominance. We will quantify individual quality,
dominance, boldness, activity, exploratory behaviour and physiological
social stress response, as judged by fecal glucocorticoid metabolites
(GCMs) before and after choosing parental care strategy. This defines
individuals on the "boldness-shyness" personality axis.

Field work will take place at Tvärminne Zoological Station, SW Finland,
in a long-term, individually-marked study population. The biochemical
analyses (immunoassay) will be conducted abroad. The doctoral student
will be based at Ekenäs, Finland, joining the interdisciplinary ARONIA
Coastal Zone Research Team established in 2008. The new Ekenäs campus
creates an inspirational setting for supervision and training, and the
candidate will be enrolled at Åbo Akademi University.

HOW TO APPLY

We are looking for a self-motivated person with a Master's Degree,
able to work both independently and in a team. The position is open from
early 2009 (with some flexibility) until the end of 2012. The thesis
work will be supervised by Dr. Markus Öst together with a postdoc. The
position is open to anyone with an interest in behavioural ecology,
evolutionary biology or physiological ecology. Previous experience of
field and lab work, good knowledge of statistics and proficient writing
skills in English are desirable qualifications. The salary will be paid
according to the guidelines of Åbo Akademi University.

Applications (in English) should include a
-Statement of research interests and motivation for applying for this
position, not exceeding 2 pages
-CV
-Publication list (if available)
-Contact information of two academic references

Send your application electronically to Markus Öst,
markus.ost [ à ] novia.fi. For further information, please e-mail or
call Markus Öst (tel. +358-19-224 8414).

Application deadline: 31 December 2008.

Senin, 08 Desember 2008

Portugal; Postdoctoral position in Developmental Biology

The main aim of this postdoctoral positon is to study the molecular mechanisms responsible for transcriptional activation of the Drosophila embryo after egg fertilization. More specifically this work will involve the characterization of a previously isolated collection of mutants (Pimenta-Marques et al., 2008), identification and characterization of the mutants specifically defective for transcriptional activation, and functional characterization of the relevant gene(s). The goal is to better understand how is transcription initiated de novo in a spatially and temporally controlled manner after egg fertilization.

Ph.D. in Biology and equivalent. Preferential consideration will be given to candidates with previous experience with Drosophila melanogaster.

Net salary: €1.495.00/month; as a reference this is 3.5 times the Portuguese minimum salary.

Curriculum Vitae, contacts of previous supervisors, and a Letter of Motivation should be sent by mail or e-mail to the following address:

Rui Gonçalo Martinho - Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência
Apartado 14 - 2781-901 OEIRAS
Email: rmartinho@igc.gulbenkian.pt

Application Period: From 1st December 2008 until 31st January 2009.