Descripción
Department of Animal Biosciences Re-winding the clock – using transgenics to re-wild the chicken We are looking for an engaged and enthusiastic research assistant to join our team looking at the genetic basis of feralization and domestication in the chicken. For this position we are looking for a candidate with experience of working with chickens, breeding them, collecting physiological and behavioural samples and phenotypes, as well as dissection. Laboratory skills, including DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR and the like will be performed, and any experience of these is a benefit. Knowledge of cell work (cell culture and maintenance, etc) is beneficial, as is some experience of lab management (ordering materials, equipment maintenance, etc). About the position The project itself has recently been funded by Revive & Restore, a US charity, to assist with a project working on de-extincting the passenger pigeon. The role of the project that will be worked on is to use transgenic technology to turn a domestic chicken into a wild/ feral one. This involves incorporating genomic regions identified using datasets of feral chickens, and also datasets taken from a wild x domestic chicken intercross in combination with single cell technology. The successful candidate will be assisting with the care and maintenance of the chickens involved, as well as performing the phenotyping assays (including behavioural and physiological measures), and also assisting in the gene editing injections. In addition, some basic lab work will be performed, including DNA extraction and similar types of work, also including some basic cell maintenance. As such, a wide variety of duties will be performed and the candidate will be actively involved with all other group members in the lab and their projects. Your profile You must hold a degree in biology, natural sciences, animal sciences, engineering, or equivalent. You must also have a documented proficiency in written and spoken English. The candid