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PHD OPPORTUNITY

21/11/2022

Job description

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to apply for the forthcoming FI 2022 grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya. More information about this grant from the 2021 call can be found here.
The candidate will join the research group Genetics and Environment in Psychiatry (GAP, https://www.iispv.cat/grup/gap-genetica-i-ambient-en-psiquiatria/) that belongs to the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) and the Pere Mata Institute University Hospital. The IISPV is a public sector institution that promotes and developes the research of the Hospital Universitari of the Tarragona Joan XXIII, the Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Hospital Tortosa Verge de la Cinta, the mental health Pere Mata Institute and the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (www.urv.cat). The GAP investigates genetic and environmental factors and the mechanisms that are involved in the development of psychiatric disorders. The group conducts research by analyzing both their own genetic data obtained from participants in the funded projects and from repositories of research data. Among the different psychiatric diagnoses, the group currently focuses on psychosis, bipolar disorder, as well as their comorbidities.

Background:
Deciphering the role of genetics in the weight increase associated with schizophrenia.
Weight gain and obesity are a major health problem and increase the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. People with psychotic disorders have a higher risk of being overweight than the general population. It is not yet clear to what this increase is due. The present project aims to investigate to what extent genetic determinants are important in weight gain in people at an early stage of psychosis. The candidate will work in the premises of the URV conducting dry-lab bioinformatics genetics research, including the generation and maintenance of databases, programming, statistical analysis and interpretation of results. She/he will also co-lead the dissemination of results in papers and meetings.

Main tasks:
• Conduct individual and collaborative research projects
• Data analysis / bioinformatic analyses
• Developing new research techniques and methods to analyse omic data
• Perform GWAS analyses and polygenic risk scoring.
• Making presentations at national and international conferences and similar events
• Teaching and supervision of Master and Bachelor students

Candidate requeriments:
1- Degree in the field of life sciences, average score > 2.7.
2- Master’s degree obtained in the last 2 years, average score > 2.7.
3- Fluent English.
4- Basic knowledge in statistics and programming.
5- Publications, posters, congress attendance and other merits will be well-considered.
6- Fulfill the requirements of the call.

Deadline: November 10, 2022

Labor conditions

What we offer:
We offer a stimulating and diverse work environment, with dedicated support for developing an academic career. Members of our research group are part of international networks (p.e. the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium) and benefit from opportunities to attend conferences and workshops around the world.
Candidates should send an e-mail to recruitment@iispv.cat and muntaneg@peremata.com enclosing a letter of presentation, academic records and the CV indicating as subject: PhD 2023

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