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

Project description:        

The aim of this project is to elucidate whether an increased level of LINE-1 retrotransposon might be a mechanism that triggers neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) related to a mutation in the FUS protein (hereafter called ALS-FUS cells).

Retrotransposons are interspersed repeats with the high copy number, which have retained the ability to transpose; i.e. moving around the genome causing mutations (insertions). They are also a source of DNA damage in neurodegeneration and can activate neuroinflammation. Their activity can be regulated by piRNA-based silencing mediated by PIWI proteins. Previously, disturbances related to upregulation of retrotransposons have been observed in model neuroblastoma cells with FUS knockout or with the introduced ALS-linked point mutation.

As a model, in this project induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) reprogrammed from fibroblasts derived from ALS patients with the FUS P525L mutation and their isogenic control will be used, further differentiated into neural progenitor cells, motor neurons, and astrocytes. Research hypotheses assume: 1) ALS-FUS mutations activate LINE-1 expression and retrotransposition; 2) this results from the deregulated expression of PIWIL1 and the disturbed processing and activity of piRNAs; 3) upregulated retrotransposons stimulate innate immune receptors leading to neuroinflammation. Research tasks include: i) differentiation of iPSCs; ii) transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of all cell types; iii) analysis of the expression levels of PIWIL1, piRNAs and LINE-1; iv) testing the effect of the ALS-FUS mutation on retrotransposition.

The project will contribute to describing the effect of FUS-dependent activation of the LINE-1 retrotransposon and evaluating the importance of this process in the neurodegenerative disease ALS. The measurable effect will be the presentation of results at scientific conferences, a scientific publication in a journal from the Philadelphia list, and a scientific dissertation.

REQUIRED SKILLS OF THE CANDIDATE:

The candidate will be searched among students who finished biology, biotechnology or bioinformatics with master's degree in Natural Sciences. Both polish candidates and foreigners will be considered. We will seek highly motivated and hard-working student with basic knowledge of molecular biology and genetics. The candidate should be familiar with RNA isolation, RT-qPCR, protein extraction and Western blot. Should be familiar with working on human cell lines and cells transfection approaches. PhD student will have access to all required infrastructures and will be trained how to use needed equipment if necessary. 

Principal investigator:  prof. UAM dr hab. Katarzyna Dorota Raczyńska -  NCN 2023/49/B/NZ5/01976

Recruitment 

Selection Committee

                              Chairman:                               prof. UAM dr hab. Katarzyna Dorota Raczyńska

                              Deputy chairman:                  prof. dr hab. Hanna Kmita

Schedule of  the Doctoral  School enrolment procedure: 

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Form of the selection procedure

One stage procedure.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

  English language. 

Required documents:

Candidates applying based on exceptional academic achievements must include a scan of the following:  

1) For first-cycle graduates: the diploma and supplement. 

2) For students completing the third year of a unified master’s programme: a certificate indicating their academic average from years 1 to 3, along with a transcript. 

Candidates educated outside Poland must additionally submit: 

1) A scanned copy of their higher education diploma and supplement for both first- and second-degree qualifications (Bachelor’s and Master’s), in the original language and a certified translation into English or Polish.

2) A scanned copy of their passport (for foreign applicants). 

 Evaluation criteria

 1. A minimum grade of "very good" or equivalent from a second-cycle (master’s) or unified master’s degree diploma (5 points). Candidates applying on the basis of exceptional scientific achievements (e.g., grant awarded under the “Pearls of Science” competition) will also receive 5 points. 

2. Evaluation of up to three documented scientific achievements submitted during registration in the IRK system, assessed according to the detailed criteria of the candidate's accomplishments (maximum of 20 points). 

3. Assessment of other documented activities, based on up to three achievements indicated by the candidate, as per the specific criteria for the discipline (maximum of 5 points). 

4. The outcome of the interview, which assesses: 

a) The candidate’s knowledge and competencies relevant to their intended research, including discipline-specific expertise. 

b) Research methodology appropriate to the chosen discipline. The interview has a maximum duration of 30 minutes and awards up to 50 points. 

5. Evaluation of the research project prepared for admission, or in the case of recruitment tied to a grant project, the author’s concept for implementing the project (maximum of 20 points). Assessment focuses on: 

a) Formulation of the research objective and presentation of the research problem. Page 6 of 9 

b) Originality of the research idea and approach to solving the research problem. 

c) Methodology suited to the indicated discipline. 

d) Awareness of the current state of research, supported by a basic bibliography. 

e) The project’s significance for the development of the chosen discipline. 

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 November, 2025.

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 doctoral scholarship amounts to PLN 5000 (gross-gross) for 48 months.  

Rules of admission to doctoral schools of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań in the academic year 2025/2026, Appendix to Resolution No. 46/2024/2025 of UAM Senate of 27 January, 2025.