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Accredited professors of the Molecular Biology Programs are always looking for motivated students who wish to pursue graduate studies in Molecular Biology. You can find the undergraduate internship, master’s, doctoral or even postdoctoral offers. Do not hesitate to contact the teams that have projects that interest you!<\/p>\n
Project title<\/strong><\/td>\n| Blood cell traits at birth: dismantling maternal<\/strong><\/p>\n | and newborn genetic contributions and their impact on newborn health<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Research laboratory presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n Our laboratory focuses on blood traits and hematological diseases (red blood cell diseases and autoimmune cytopenias in particular), mainly using genomics and genetics approaches. Our aims to provide patients suffering from hematological pathologies with the best available tools of these approaches. We sought to better understand these pathologies and to develop prognostic tools. We also seek to improve understanding of blood traits and their use as biomarkers in clinical practice. Our laboratory has a full-time bioinformatician to support students in computational analyses.<\/p>\n Research project description<\/strong><\/p>\n Blood traits (number and characteristics of blood cells) influence many physiological processes, such as oxygen transport for red blood cells and defense against infection for white blood cells. The blood characteristics of newborn babies are unique, with two specific features. Firstly, they are under the combined influence of maternal and foetal factors. Secondly, fetal hemoglobin accounts for most of the newborn’s hemoglobin. As this hemoglobin has a greater affinity for oxygen, it favors the transport of this molecule from the mother to the fetus and the fetus growth. However, our knowledge of these specificities is limited. Indeed, the respective contributions of mother and fetus to the regulation of blood traits are unknown, and the impact of fetal hemoglobin variation on newborn growth has not been studied. These limitations complicate the interpretation of blood traits at birth. Nevertheless, the complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common tests performed on newborns to assess several blood traits. In clinical practice, interpretation of the abnormalities found in CBC is sometimes difficult because their consequences are unclear.<\/p>\n The genetics of blood traits, including fetal hemoglobin, have been extensively studied in adult populations. These data represent a valuable tool for addressing the challenges posed by blood traits at birth.<\/p>\n In this project, we propose to use different epidemiological (computational) genetic approaches to better understand the specificities of newborn blood traits and improve their clinical interpretation. In particular, the candidate will be required to carry out polygenic score analyses, mendelian randomization and multivariate analyses. He or she will work on two of the largest cohorts to have measured blood traits at birth, with genotyping data available for both mother and newborn.<\/p>\n This project can be carried out as part of a master’s degree, or deepened and extended if a PhD is desired.<\/p>\n Required training and profile<\/strong><\/p>\n We are looking for a motivated person with an interest in epidemiological genetics and hematology. This person must have an interest in teamwork.<\/p>\n Some experience in the use of bioinformatics tools is required (prior use of R and Unix code). Knowledge of human biology, and in particular human genetics, is an asset.<\/p>\n A previous degree in biomedical sciences, genetics, bioinformatics or equivalent is required.<\/p>\n Students must have sufficient knowledge of French and English.<\/p>\n Applications with expertise in article writing and statistical data analysis will be preferred.<\/p>\n Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n The candidate must be enrolled at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al in a program relevant to the research topic (M.Sc. or Ph.D.). Funding will be granted for the duration of the program of study. All trainees will be required to apply for grants from granting agencies.<\/p>\n Submit your application<\/strong><\/p>\n Candidates must send the required documents to Thomas Pincez <\/strong>at thomas.pincez@umontreal.ca<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Please provide:<\/u><\/p>\n (November 2024)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Research laboratory presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n Our laboratory focuses on blood traits and hematological diseases (red blood cell diseases and autoimmune cytopenias in particular), mainly using genomics and genetics approaches. Our aims to provide patients suffering from hematological pathologies with the best available tools of these approaches. We sought to better understand these pathologies and to develop prognostic tools. We also seek to improve understanding the genetic basis of hematological diseases. Our laboratory has a full-time bioinformatician to support students in computational analyses.<\/p>\n Research project description<\/strong><\/p>\n Diseases of the red blood cell can lead to its destruction, a phenomenon known as hemolysis. This hemolysis leads to anemia of varying severity, which may require red blood cell transfusions. Genetic variants in red cell membrane genes are found in several hemolytic diseases. However, such variants can also be found in individuals without hemolysis. Thus, the impact of variants affecting red cell membrane genes is poorly understood and probably affected by the presence of variants in other genes and\/or by underlying polygenic predisposition. This project aims to better understand the impact of variants associated with hemolysis and to identify the genetic contribution to hemolysis. This will also have a clinical impact by enabling better genetic counseling and management of patients with hemolytic disorders.<\/p>\n The candidate will work with large databases (>500,000 individuals) to search for variants in red cell disease genes. He\/she will also carry out genome-wide association studies to identify the polygenic contribution to hemolysis. The impact of these variants and scores will be analyzed on patients’ biological and clinical data. Mendelian randomization will be used to analyze the causality of the associations found.<\/p>\n This project can be carried out as part of a master’s degree, or deepened and extended if a PhD is desired.<\/p>\n Required training and profile<\/strong><\/p>\n We are looking for a motivated person with an interest in epidemiological genetics and hematology. This person must have an interest in teamwork.<\/p>\n Some experience in the use of bioinformatics tools is required (prior use of R and Unix code). Knowledge of human biology, and in particular human genetics, is an asset.<\/p>\n A previous degree in biomedical sciences, genetics, bioinformatics or equivalent is required.<\/p>\n Students must have sufficient knowledge of French and English.<\/p>\n Applications with expertise in article writing and statistical data analysis will be prioritized.<\/p>\n Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n The candidate must be enrolled at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al in a program relevant to the research topic (M.Sc. or Ph.D.). Funding will be granted for the duration of the program of study. All trainees will be required to apply for grants from granting agencies.<\/p>\n Submit your application<\/strong><\/p>\n Candidates must send the required documents to Thomas Pincez <\/strong>at thomas.pincez@umontreal.ca<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Please provide:<\/u><\/p>\n (November 2024)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span>DNA replication is a fundamental process that allows the duplication of genetic material and its subsequent transfer to daughter cells. DNA damage caused by environmental agents or anti-cancer drugs can prevent DNA replication and cause genomic instability. Our laboratory investigates the mechanisms that enable cells to respond to DNA damage that occurs during replication. Our research projects aim to better understand the impact of these mechanisms in the context of ovarian cancer and malignant melanoma. We use approaches from molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics, as well as experimental models ranging from yeast to cultured mammalian cells.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We are looking for candidates for MSc, PhD, or post-doctoral studies interested in cancer research and in fundamental mechanisms influencing genomic stability in eukaryotes. Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria of the Molecular Biology program at the University of Montreal: previous studies in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology are essential. Candidates with laboratory experience and strong academic skills will be favored. The projects will be carried out at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, a leading training facility affiliated with the University of Montreal, in Dr. Hugo Wurtele’s laboratory (https:\/\/crhmr.ciusss-estmtl.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/researcher\/hugo-wurtele<\/span>). Interested candidates should send a CV, letter of motivation, and university transcripts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Relevant Publications:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Lemay J-F, St-Hilaire E, Gezzar-Dandashi S, McQuaid M, Ronato DA, Gao Y, B\u00e9langer F, Sawchyn C, Kimenyi Ishimwe AB, Mallette FA, Masson J-Y, Drobetsky EA, Wurtele H (2022) A genome-wide screen identifies SCAI as a modulator of the UV-induced replicative stress response in human cells. PLoS Biol. 2022 Oct 10;20(10)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B\u00e9langer F, Roussel C, Sawchyn C, Gezzar-Dandashi S, Mallette FA, Wurtele H*, Drobetsky EA* (2023) Control of UV damage repair during S phase via Dyrk1A-dependent regulation of cyclin D1\/p21waf1cip1 stability. Journal of Biological Chemistry 8: 104900, doi: 10.1016\/j.jbc.2023.104900\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B\u00e9langer F, Fortier E, Dub\u00e9 M, Lemay JF, Buisson R, Masson JY, Elsherbiny A, Costantino S, Carmona E, Mes-Masson AM, Wurtele H, Drobetsky E. (2018) Replication Protein A Availability during DNA Replication Stress Is a Major Determinant of Cisplatin Resistance in Ovarian Cancer Cells. Cancer Res. 78:5561-5573\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (August 2024)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n and newborn genetic contributions and their impact on newborn health<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Research laboratory presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n Our laboratory focuses on blood traits and hematological diseases (red blood cell diseases and autoimmune cytopenias in particular), mainly using genomics and genetics approaches. Our aims to provide patients suffering from hematological pathologies with the best available tools of these approaches. We sought to better understand these pathologies and to develop prognostic tools. We also seek to improve understanding of blood traits and their use as biomarkers in clinical practice. Our laboratory has a full-time bioinformatician to support students in computational analyses.<\/p>\n Research project description<\/strong><\/p>\n Blood traits (number and characteristics of blood cells) influence many physiological processes, such as oxygen transport for red blood cells and defense against infection for white blood cells. The blood characteristics of newborn babies are unique, with two specific features. Firstly, they are under the combined influence of maternal and foetal factors. Secondly, fetal hemoglobin accounts for most of the newborn’s hemoglobin. As this hemoglobin has a greater affinity for oxygen, it favors the transport of this molecule from the mother to the fetus and the fetus growth. However, our knowledge of these specificities is limited. Indeed, the respective contributions of mother and fetus to the regulation of blood traits are unknown, and the impact of fetal hemoglobin variation on newborn growth has not been studied. These limitations complicate the interpretation of blood traits at birth. Nevertheless, the complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common tests performed on newborns to assess several blood traits. In clinical practice, interpretation of the abnormalities found in CBC is sometimes difficult because their consequences are unclear.<\/p>\n The genetics of blood traits, including fetal hemoglobin, have been extensively studied in adult populations. These data represent a valuable tool for addressing the challenges posed by blood traits at birth.<\/p>\n In this project, we propose to use different epidemiological (computational) genetic approaches to better understand the specificities of newborn blood traits and improve their clinical interpretation. In particular, the candidate will be required to carry out polygenic score analyses, mendelian randomization and multivariate analyses. He or she will work on two of the largest cohorts to have measured blood traits at birth, with genotyping data available for both mother and newborn.<\/p>\n This project can be carried out as part of a master’s degree, or deepened and extended if a PhD is desired.<\/p>\n Required training and profile<\/strong><\/p>\n We are looking for a motivated person with an interest in epidemiological genetics and hematology. This person must have an interest in teamwork.<\/p>\n Some experience in the use of bioinformatics tools is required (prior use of R and Unix code). Knowledge of human biology, and in particular human genetics, is an asset.<\/p>\n A previous degree in biomedical sciences, genetics, bioinformatics or equivalent is required.<\/p>\n Students must have sufficient knowledge of French and English.<\/p>\n Applications with expertise in article writing and statistical data analysis will be preferred.<\/p>\n Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n The candidate must be enrolled at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al in a program relevant to the research topic (M.Sc. or Ph.D.). Funding will be granted for the duration of the program of study. All trainees will be required to apply for grants from granting agencies.<\/p>\n Submit your application<\/strong><\/p>\n Candidates must send the required documents to Thomas Pincez <\/strong>at thomas.pincez@umontreal.ca<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Please provide:<\/u><\/p>\n (November 2024)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Research laboratory presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n Our laboratory focuses on blood traits and hematological diseases (red blood cell diseases and autoimmune cytopenias in particular), mainly using genomics and genetics approaches. Our aims to provide patients suffering from hematological pathologies with the best available tools of these approaches. We sought to better understand these pathologies and to develop prognostic tools. We also seek to improve understanding the genetic basis of hematological diseases. Our laboratory has a full-time bioinformatician to support students in computational analyses.<\/p>\n Research project description<\/strong><\/p>\n Diseases of the red blood cell can lead to its destruction, a phenomenon known as hemolysis. This hemolysis leads to anemia of varying severity, which may require red blood cell transfusions. Genetic variants in red cell membrane genes are found in several hemolytic diseases. However, such variants can also be found in individuals without hemolysis. Thus, the impact of variants affecting red cell membrane genes is poorly understood and probably affected by the presence of variants in other genes and\/or by underlying polygenic predisposition. This project aims to better understand the impact of variants associated with hemolysis and to identify the genetic contribution to hemolysis. This will also have a clinical impact by enabling better genetic counseling and management of patients with hemolytic disorders.<\/p>\n The candidate will work with large databases (>500,000 individuals) to search for variants in red cell disease genes. He\/she will also carry out genome-wide association studies to identify the polygenic contribution to hemolysis. The impact of these variants and scores will be analyzed on patients’ biological and clinical data. Mendelian randomization will be used to analyze the causality of the associations found.<\/p>\n This project can be carried out as part of a master’s degree, or deepened and extended if a PhD is desired.<\/p>\n Required training and profile<\/strong><\/p>\n We are looking for a motivated person with an interest in epidemiological genetics and hematology. This person must have an interest in teamwork.<\/p>\n Some experience in the use of bioinformatics tools is required (prior use of R and Unix code). Knowledge of human biology, and in particular human genetics, is an asset.<\/p>\n A previous degree in biomedical sciences, genetics, bioinformatics or equivalent is required.<\/p>\n Students must have sufficient knowledge of French and English.<\/p>\n Applications with expertise in article writing and statistical data analysis will be prioritized.<\/p>\n Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n The candidate must be enrolled at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al in a program relevant to the research topic (M.Sc. or Ph.D.). Funding will be granted for the duration of the program of study. All trainees will be required to apply for grants from granting agencies.<\/p>\n Submit your application<\/strong><\/p>\n Candidates must send the required documents to Thomas Pincez <\/strong>at thomas.pincez@umontreal.ca<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Please provide:<\/u><\/p>\n (November 2024)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n |