The fieldsite on campus consists of over 50 nestboxes for Great tits and Blue tits, which offers a great opportunity to study wildlife in urban spaces. Some possible projects could include mapping and identifying vegetation around the nest boxes, investigating the composition of the nests and identifying any anthropogenic materials used, or designing a nest box suitable for urban habitats. You are also welcome to suggest your own ideas. Please contact Aure Kylmänen at aure.kylmaenen@tu-dortmund.de for more information.

We are seeking an intellectually curious researcher to study genomic architecture and the evolution of DNA base motifs in birds as part of the Computational Systems Biology group. The project will contribute to a broader understanding of how genes are turned on and off and the influences of these processes on organic evolution. The work will primarily utilize archival sequence data and be computational in nature. Prior computational skills are not required, but if absent the applicant should be excited to enter the fields of bioinformatics and genomics.

Request for potential project: toni.gossmann@tu-dortmund.de

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to study the mechanisms of parasitic DNA (transposons) control in birds as part of the Computational Systems Biology group. The project will contribute to a better understanding of how genes are turned on and off and the implications of this to the accumulation of DNA damage and genomic degradation resulting from transposons. The work will involve both wet lab and computational approaches. Prior experience is not necessary, but the applicant should be enthusiastic to learn skillsets in molecular biology and bioinformatics. 

Request for potential project: toni.gossmann@tu-dortmund.de