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🧬 PhD Positions in C. elegans Genetics, Cell Biology & Biology of Aging | Ohio University
Institution: Ohio University
Department: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
📍 Location: Athens, Ohio, USA
💼 Position: PhD Positions – C. elegans Genetics, Cell Biology & Biology of Aging
🔬 Research Area: Genetics | Cell Biology | Biology of Aging | C. elegans | Metabolism | Redox Biology | Proteostasis | Protein Folding | ER Function | Molecular Biology
The Cellular & Organismal Resilience and Aging (CORA) Laboratory, directed by Dr. Jorge I. Castillo-Quan in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio University, is recruiting motivated Ph.D. students for Fall 2027.
The CORA Laboratory investigates how organisms maintain cellular and organismal homeostasis under metabolic, environmental, and proteotoxic stress, with a particular focus on mechanisms that influence health and longevity.
🔬 What You’ll Work On
C. elegans Genetics
Use Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to investigate fundamental mechanisms of cellular and organismal biology.
Biology of Aging & Longevity
Study the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate aging, healthspan, longevity, and stress resilience.
Lipid Metabolism & Signaling
Investigate how lipid metabolism and signaling pathways influence cellular homeostasis and organismal health.
Redox Biology
Study cellular redox mechanisms and their contribution to stress responses, homeostasis, and aging.
Proteostasis & Protein Folding
Investigate mechanisms responsible for maintaining protein homeostasis and proper protein folding under proteotoxic stress.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Function
Explore ER-associated processes and their role in cellular stress responses and age-related changes.
Transcriptional Regulation
Study transcription factors and regulatory pathways including:
- SKN-1/Nrf
- Krüppel-like transcription factors
- Stress-response pathways
- Gene-expression regulation
Quantitative & Multi-Omics Research
Integrate experimental biology with quantitative imaging, transcriptomics, proteomics, and other multi-omics approaches to understand biological mechanisms.
🔬 Research Approach
Depending on the project, students will receive training in a combination of:
- C. elegans genetics and strain construction
- RNA interference (RNAi)
- Fluorescence and high-content microscopy
- Lifespan and healthspan analysis
- Cellular and organismal stress-response assays
- Gene-expression analysis
- RT-qPCR
- Genetic screening
- Reporter-based studies
- Quantitative image analysis
- Genomic and transcriptomic approaches
- Proteomic and other multi-omics approaches
Previous experience with C. elegans is not required. Students will receive training in the relevant experimental and computational approaches.
🎯 Research Questions
Current research in the CORA Laboratory addresses questions such as:
- How do cells maintain proteostasis and protein quality control during aging?
- How does SKN-1/Nrf signaling contribute to stress resistance?
- How do lipid metabolism and signaling influence cellular resilience?
- How does the endoplasmic reticulum respond to metabolic and proteotoxic stress?
- How do transcription factors regulate cellular and organismal responses to stress?
- How are metabolic signals coordinated with mechanisms that promote proteome resilience and longevity?
👨🔬 Ideal Candidates
Competitive applicants will demonstrate:
- A strong interest in experimental and mechanistic biology.
- Previous laboratory or research experience is advantageous.
- A strong interest in biology and the ability to formulate biological questions.
- Willingness to learn new experimental techniques and approaches.
- Critical thinking and analytical abilities.
- A strong interest in studying model organisms to understand fundamental biology.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
⭐ Relevant Backgrounds
Applicants with backgrounds in areas such as:
- Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Related life-science disciplines
may be suitable for the program.
C. elegans experience is not required, as training will be provided.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
- Training in C. elegans genetics and experimental biology.
- Hands-on experience with RNAi and genetic manipulation.
- Training in fluorescence and high-content microscopy.
- Experience with lifespan and healthspan assays.
- Exposure to molecular and cellular stress-response research.
- Experience with RT-qPCR and gene-expression analysis.
- Training in quantitative imaging and data analysis.
- Exposure to genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and other multi-omics approaches.
- Opportunities to participate in collaborative research projects.
- Development of scientific communication and research skills.
- Opportunities for conference participation and professional development.
- Structured doctoral training through the Biological Sciences Graduate Program at Ohio University.
💰 Funding & Graduate Training
Competitive graduate research and teaching appointments provide:
- 12-month stipend
- Tuition waiver
The PhD program also provides opportunities for:
- Supervised teaching experience
- Professional development
- Conference participation
- Research training
- Interdisciplinary scientific collaboration
💼 Position Details
Position: PhD Student
Institution: Ohio University
Department: Department of Biological Sciences
Laboratory: Cellular & Organismal Resilience and Aging (CORA) Laboratory
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jorge I. Castillo-Quan
Location: Athens, Ohio, USA
Admission Term: Fall 2027
Degree Program: PhD in Biological Sciences
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Biology or a related discipline
Minimum GPA: 3.2
GRE: Not Required
Funding: Competitive 12-Month Stipend + Tuition Waiver
Research Model: C. elegans
Core Research Areas: Genetics | Cell Biology | Aging | Stress Biology | Proteostasis | Metabolism
🧪 Key Technical & Research Skills
The program provides training in:
- C. elegans genetics
- Strain construction
- RNAi
- Genetic manipulation
- Molecular biology
- Cell biology
- Fluorescence microscopy
- High-content microscopy
- Quantitative imaging
- Lifespan analysis
- Healthspan analysis
- Stress-response assays
- RT-qPCR
- Gene-expression analysis
- Reporter assays
- Lipid metabolism
- Redox biology
- Proteostasis
- Protein-folding biology
- ER function
- Transcription-factor biology
- SKN-1/Nrf signaling
- Krüppel-like transcription factors
- Genomics
- Transcriptomics
- Proteomics
- Multi-omics
- Biological data analysis
🎓 PhD Programme
Students will pursue their PhD through the Biological Sciences Graduate Program at Ohio University.
The program provides graduate training through coursework, research, teaching opportunities, and professional development. Competitive graduate research and teaching appointments provide a 12-month stipend and tuition waiver.
The program also offers opportunities for supervised teaching, conference participation, professional development, and interdisciplinary research.
📄 How to Apply
Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr. Castillo-Quan BEFORE submitting the formal application.
📩 Email: jorge.castillo-quan@ohio.edu
Suggested Email Subject:
Prospective Ph.D. Student – Fall 2027 – [Your Name]
Initial Contact Should Include:
- CV
- Contact information for 2–3 potential academic referees
- Brief statement describing your research interests and experience
- A short explanation of your interest in joining the CORA Laboratory
After contacting the PI, eligible applicants can proceed with the formal Ohio University graduate application.
📋 Application Requirements
The Biological Sciences Graduate Program requires:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Biology or a related discipline with appropriate foundational coursework.
- Minimum GPA of 3.2
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Academic transcripts
- CV/resume
- Additional application materials as required by the graduate program.
GRE is not required.
📅 Application Deadline
Formal Application Deadline: 8 January 2027
Admission Term: Fall 2027
Important: Prospective students should contact Dr. Jorge I. Castillo-Quan before submitting the formal application.
📌 Job Details
Institution: Ohio University
Department: Department of Biological Sciences
Laboratory: CORA Laboratory
Position: PhD Student
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jorge I. Castillo-Quan
Location: Athens, Ohio, USA 🇺🇸
Admission: Fall 2027
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology or Related Field
Minimum GPA: 3.2
GRE: Not Required
Funding: 12-Month Stipend + Tuition Waiver
Research Model: C. elegans
Core Research: Genetics | Cell Biology | Biology of Aging | Stress Biology
Additional Areas: Lipid Metabolism | Redox Biology | Proteostasis | ER Function | Transcriptional Regulation | Multi-Omics
Application Mode: Online Graduate Application + Prior PI Contact
PI Contact: jorge.castillo-quan@ohio.edu
Formal Application Deadline: 8 January 2027
Category
PhD Positions | Fully Funded PhD | Biology PhD | Genetics PhD | Cell Biology PhD | Aging Research | C. elegans Research | Molecular Biology | Biotechnology PhD | Biological Sciences | Ohio University PhD | USA PhD | Research Positions | Graduate Research
🏷️ Tags
#PhD #PhDPosition #OhioUniversity #BiologyPhD #Genetics #CellBiology #AgingResearch #C_elegans #MolecularBiology #Biotechnology #Proteostasis #RedoxBiology #LipidMetabolism #StemCellResearch
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