Description: Study on the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides in different fish species.

The innate immune system is the first line of defence protecting organisms from plants to humans from bacterial infections. This protection is partly due to a wide variety of antimicrobial peptides which act as natural antibiotics.

So far very little is known about these peptides in fish. We are concentrating on the cathelicidin peptides and starting to characterise their expression in different conditions, tissues and even species of fish. The project covers a broad field of interest:
- molecular biology
- immunology
- evolution of immunity
- aquaculture
- fish biology

The laboratory of Guðmundur Hrafn Guðmundsson is located in Askja, the new Natural Sciences Building at the University of Iceland. The laboratory shares facilities with several other groups in the field of molecular biology, genetics, evolutionary biology and virology with state of the art equipment for molecular and cell biology. It also has high power computer facilities running various software for data analysis.

The student will be part of a research team numbering between 20 and 30 students, post-docs and senior researchers.

We are searching for a highly motivated and qualified student who has finished a M.Sc. (or equivalent) in a relevant field. A good undergraduate (B.Sc.) with excellent grades and laboratory experience will also be considered.

Note: In order to be accepted into the PhD program in the Faculty of Science at the University of Iceland the applicant must hold a MS degree (3 year PhD program) or a BS degree (4 year PhD program) in a relevant field with a grade-point average of 7 out of 10 or equivalent. Relevant fields include biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology and Immunology.

Application
Applications should include copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts, CV, a short description of research interest and research experience, copies of published articles and thesis if any, and the names and addresses of two to three references who know the applicant’s academic record and character.

The applicant should arrange to have references send their evaluations of the applicant directly to Dr. Valerie Maier (who gives further information if requested): valerie@hi.is

Applications shall be sent in English or Icelandic by January 31, 2007 via post or email to:

Dr. Valerie Maier
Institute of Biology
University of Iceland
Sturlugata 7
101 Reykjavik
ICELAND
Email: valerie@hi.is

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