The RTG aims at investigating how environmental stimuli are sensed and processed by different organisms. Animals have developed a complex variety of sensory receptor cells for physical and chemical stimuli in response to millions of years of evolutionary pressures. Sensory receptor cells process the incoming information by intracellular molecular components leading to a cellular response. Thesis project topics will address activation processes of receptor molecules, receptor-coupled signal transduction pathways and molecular switch mechanisms, but will also include studies on visual and auditory dysfunction. We expect mutual benefit from physical model systems and from biological concepts, which might lead to the development of new technical applications (e.g., biomedicine). The research programme of the RTG Molecular Basis of Sensory Biology involves thesis projects that are interdisciplinary. The programme aims to develop an understanding of common principles of sensory processing from a molecular biological, chemical and physical perspective. It includes research topics on a wide variety of senses including vision, hearing, magnetoreception and chemoreception with a strong input from chemistry, biophysics and physics. Research and training in this programme focus on the molecular level of normal and impaired sensory systems. We address these central questions using different experimental strategies based on tools available in molecular and cellular biology, but input from biophysical techniques and the design and synthesis of chemical compounds (e.g., for fluorescence studies) are central to many projects as well. Consequently, the study programme will provide the students with strong skills in biology, chemistry and physics, thereby facilitating close collaboration and mutual exchange of ideas between these disciplines. It is also important that the students acquire background knowledge and practical experience with a range of different technologies, including those that are not directly related to their specific thesis project. The institutional framework in place at the University of Oldenburg and the very good scientific educational programme of the RTG guarantees the achievement of these aims. Furthermore, the programme offers training in transferable skills to strengthen personal competences of future leaders in academia and industry. Information on the RTG programme and the curricula of the PhD studies are provided on the website.

Research Training Group Molecular Basis of Sensory Biology

Research Training Group Molecular Basis of Sensory Biology

About

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Fee Information

How to Apply

Research Training Group Molecular Basis of Sensory Biology

Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg