University of Helsinki
Update (6 June 2014): One grant has been awarded. We are still willing to receive applications for the second one, even for thesis work later in the year.
We have available stipends for supporting two M.Sc. students during their thesis research. Each stipend is 1100 €, and can be fully used to cover living expenses, as research costs will be paid by us.
There is some flexibility in subject but basically there are three options:
1) Study of the role of ultraviolet radiation in the pre-emptive acclimation of tree seedlings to drought. Location: Viikki field. Start: 4 June 2014. Measurements: water use, growth, gas-exchange and/or chlorophyll fluorescence. Supervisors: Pedro Aphalo and Luis Morales.
2) Study changes in gene expression in response to UV radiation in Arabidopsis photoreceptor mutants (and respective wild types). Location: Viikki greenhouse and labs. Start: 1 July at the latest. Measurements: gene expression by PCR. Light measurements.Supervisors: Luis Morales and Pedro Aphalo.
3) Study of accumulation of osmotica in guard cells of Arabidopsis photoreceptor mutants (and respective wild types) through histochemical methods (microscopy). Start: soon. Measurements: microphotography. Supervisors: Fang Wang, Pedro Aphalo, Kurt Fagerstedt.
Applications as PDF attachments to an e-mail to Pedro Aphalo (pedro.aphalo@helsinki.fi) sent before 31 May 2014, 16:00, EET.Each application should include: short CV including student number, an authorization to check records in Oodi or include a transcript. A motivation letter explaining why you would like to do your Gradu in our research group, also indicating which subject is of most interest, and which if any are of no interest to you. The name of a person (preferably a teacher) able to give references should be provided. This call is not limited to Plant Biology students but previous experience will be taken into account during selection.
Depending on number of applicants, informal interviews may be arranged.