Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

Unravelling red knots' gut microbiome using molecular biology

The red knot is a migratory shorebird that breeds in Siberia, winters in Mauritania and has a stopover site in the Wadden Sea. Due to climate change, the population is forced to change its diet from shellfish to seagrass. To understand whether they can adapt to this shift, we investigate their gut microbiome. We do this in a non-intrusive way by looking at the bacteria that are present in their feces.

We offer a diverse and inclusive working environment. The sample set you will be working with is unique, collected from red knots living in the wild. You will be able to develop skills in multiple, commonly used DNA techniques as you start with the raw samples and go through the whole process of preparing them for DNA sequencing. These techniques include DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, gel purification and working with a pipetting robot.

(credits: M. de Wilde)
Requirements

We are seeking a highly motivated student for an internship in the molecular ecology lab. A fondness for accuracy and basic knowledge of lab work are required. English speaking and reading are a plus. The duration of the project is minimum six months, the start date can be discussed. Supervision will be done by Prof. Laura Villanueva and Marie de Wilde. 

Contact

If you are interested, please send your CV and a short letter of motivation to PhD student Marie de Wilde (marie.de.wilde@nioz.nl).