Additional recruitment to the Doctoral School of Natural Sciences  beyond the limit of places

Project description:    

As early as 50 years ago scientists discovered that genes, DNA fragments containing instructions for protein synthesis, can be split. The protein-coding sequence (exon) is often interrupted by a non-coding segment called “intron”. Such a sequence is excised (spliced) from a maturing ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule to assemble a mature template for the protein translation.

It is commonly believed that introns can be found only in eukaryotes (animals, plants and fungi), and genes of prokaryotic microorganisms are continuous. Even when the first split bacterial or viral genes were discovered, most scientists considered them an oddity, not a rule. Many biology handbooks still distinguish between eukaryotic genes with exons and introns and uninterrupted coding sequences found in the genomes of microorganisms or viruses.

The results of analysis conducted by our team contradict this view. They indicate that introns can be found in many genes of viruses infecting bacteria called bacteriophages. The program we have developed recognizes interrupted genes and distinguishes introns from random gaps in the coding sequence, which may be the result of mutations or sequencing errors. Obtained results showed that introns are a relatively common part of the viral genomes. Preliminary laboratory experiments confirm some of those results and show that predicted introns are often capable of self-excision from coding sequences.

The aim of this project is to assess the true prevalence of bacteriophage introns and to understand the mechanism of their splicing. To achieve this goal we plan to answer the following questions:

● How many bacteriophage genes contain introns?

● How viral genes interrupted by introns are assembled into a continuous RNA molecule?

● Which host factors are involved in RNA splicing?

● What conditions allow for efficient intron splicing?

● What role do introns play during the phage infection?

We expect that finding the answers to these questions will allow us to discover new groups of intervening sequences, elucidate their function, and finally, understand the evolution of genomes better.

Principal investigator: dr hab. inż. Jakub Barylski - SONATA BIS 2023/50/E/NZ2/00120

Recruitment:

Selection Committeee       

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Form of the selection procedure

Two-stage procedure.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

 1.        Candidates who have obtained the necessary education outside the territory of the Republic of Poland, shall additionally submit:

1)    a photocopy of a document which confirms their education, certified to be a true copy of the original document, i.e. a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of first cycle studies (Bachelor degree) and a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of second cycle studies (Master degree, MSc, MA) in the original language and in a certified translation into English or into Polish,

            2)    a photocopy of their passport. 

 Evaluation criteria

 1)    the grade awarded for the diploma of the second cycle studies or single cycle five year master’s studies - maximum 10 points; in the case of candidates who seek admission on the basis of superior academic achievements ("Pearls of Science") - 10 points;

 2)    evaluation of the candidate's scientific activity and scientific achievements; the candidate indicates for evaluation up to three documented scientific achievements, in accordance with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 15 points;

 3)    evaluation of the candidate's other documented activity, based on a maximum of three achievements consistent with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 5 points

 4)    the result of the interview, with the scope of the interview including:

 a)    the candidate's knowledge and competencies relevant to the planned research and appropriate to the indicated scientific discipline,

 b)    elements of research methodology appropriate for the discipline indicated.

 No more than 50 points can be awarded for the interview; the maximum duration of the interview is 30 minutes.

 5)    evaluation of the research project prepared and submitted for assessment to the selection committee (maximum 20 points), with particular emphasis on:

 a)    the ability to formulate the research objective and present the research problem;

 b)    research idea and the ability to propose a solution;

 c)    methodology appropriate to the discipline indicated;

          d)    knowledge of the state of research with a basic bibliography. 

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education at the Doctoral School  is offered on the basis of a framework curriculum and an individual research plan and ends with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.

The framework curriculum at the doctoral school includes a catalogue of modules of compulsory classes, elective compulsory classes and optional classes. It also:

1)    defines their schedule

2)    defines the way in which the classes are taught

3)    defines how learning outcomes are verified.

Education begins on 1st October, 2024.

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships

The scholarship is PLN 5,000 (gross-gross)  for the first two years and PLN 6259 (gross-gross) for the next two years.