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Nanostructured Electrochemical DNA Biosensors for a Complex Detection of DNA Damage – (Ph.D.)
Charles University
Faculty of Science| Application Deadline: | March 1, 2012 | ||
| Location: | Prague / Czech Republic / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 48 months | Start Date: | October |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Charles University
Running title:
Electrochemical DNA Biosensors
Research group:
UNESCO Laboratory of Environmental Electrochemistry
Modern electrochemical DNA biosensors using several detection techniques (cyclic voltammetry, square-wave voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy) and different working electrodes (carbon-based for monitoring of oxidation processes and mercury-based for monitoring of reduction processes) can provide deep and complex information about the interaction of investigated xenobiotics with biopolymeric structure of DNA. Further development which can lead to the routine clinical applications of these sophisticated in vitro detection systems must involve miniaturization and automation of those devices.
This fact brings the necessity of testing and development of new electrode materials capable to substitute traditionally used materials which are not too suitable for these purposes. New electrode materials based on silver amalgam, graphite composite films and metal or carbon nanoparticles seems to be a very promising alternative.
The aim of the project is to carry out initial physicochemical study involving optimization of the preparation of the above mentioned electrode surfaces, electrochemical characterization of resulting boundaries and the study of electrochemical behavior of attached DNA. Afterwards, it will be necessary to compare the newly prepared biosensors with traditionally used systems and to carry out thorough calibration (chemometric) studies.
In the final stage of the project, the most promising prototypes will be used for complex detection of DNA by selected xenobiotics (carcinogenic priority pollutants of the environment or modern anticancer drugs.
Contents
What is STARS?
STARS is a program supporting talented PhD students at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague. The aim of this program is to provide excellent education and an adequate income to PhD students of the Faculty. The STARS program wants to attract the best students from the Czech Republic as well as from abroad. Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, is a top-quality centre of research in natural sciences. The Faculty takes care about its future and that’s why the STARS program was born. Come to Prague and become the future of our Faculty!
March 1 - April 1, 2012
Interviews with candidates organized by research teams and faculty PhD coordinators.
How can I apply?
How are candidates selected?
The program is competitive. The supervisors of the individual PhD projects will shortlist eligible applicants, who will then be invited for an interview to be held during the month of March. The exact interview dates will be agreed between the supervisors and the candidates. Based on the interviews, the applicants to whom the scholarship will be offered will be selected in the beginning of April.
As STARS PhD students you have access to:
• Supervision
• Advanced methodological courses
• High-tech laboratories and core facilities
• Soft skills training
• Czech language courses for foreign students
UNESCO Laboratory of Environmental Electrochemistry
Laboratory staff:
* Prof. RNDr. Jirí Barek, PhD.
Laboratory concentrates on development of new polarographic, voltammetric and chromatographic methods for determination of biologically active organic compounds, which are significant from the
- environmental
- medical
- pharmaceutical
- toxicological
point of view.
At present, we are working on problems of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, especially on their determination by polarography, voltammetry and liquid chromatography. We are attend to application of mercury electrodes and carbon paste electrodes in the trace analysis of biologically active compounds.
We cooperate with several institutions, some of them you can visit through WWW:
In cooperation with MERCK, Prague, demonstration laboratory of liquid chromatography was founded.
We also recommend to visit homepage of DataApex Ltd., whose software we are use.
* Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Jirí Zima, PhD.
* MSc. Karel Cí
* MSc. Jan Fischer
* International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
* National Cancer Institute, USA
* Loughborough University, UK
* Center for Ecology, Toxicology, and Analysis/Research Institute of Organic Syntheses, Pardubice, Czech Republic
* CESTEH/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Requirements
The STARS program is open to all applicants who hold a master‘s degree or equivalent in sciences, medicine, pharmacology and a related field of study. It is also open to students who are in the last year of their studies and will be able to present their degree diploma at the beginning of their PhD study.
The candidate should be proficient in English; however, no formal English exam (such as TOEFL) is required.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Master's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Faculty
The Faculty of Science was established in 1920 as the fifth faculty of Charles University. It currently has 29 departments, 3 museums and a large Botanical Garden where the Study Department and some students’ facilities are located.
Nowadays the Faculty is academically and organizationally divided into four sections: biological, geographical, geological and chemical. In addition to these sections the Faculty has several specialists teaching and research centres, including interdisciplinary institutions such as the Institute for Environmental Studies. All parts of the Faculty are active in both teaching and research.
The main mission of the Faculty of Science is to create highly quantified experts in biology, chemistry, geography, geology and in other interdisciplinary fields. Its scientific and research effort aims to solve key problems concerned with the development of human society. Some of the priority long-term subjects are human health, the study of the function and prediction of the development of ecosystems and the biosphere, and the development of environmentally-friendly materials based on the utilization
of renewable resources.
The Faculty of Science offers three educational levels, bachelor, master and doctoral. All bachelor and master’s programs include both theoretical teaching and practical exercises in laboratories, and some courses combine the academic studies of natural science with teacher training in a chosen field. Bachelor courses are introductions to deeper studies that follow on in the master’s programs. Master’s study programs train experts for scientific and research institutes, government careers, industry and the private sector. Graduates of the master’s courses with the teacher training element are qualified to teach in secondary schools and secondary vocational schools. Doctoral study programs train highly specialized staff for science and research.
Ask a Question
You can contact Prof. RNDr. Jirí Barek, CSc to ask a question about Nanostructured Electrochemical DNA Biosensors for a Complex Detection of DNA Damage at Charles University.
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