Master Thesis: "Physiology of Yield Stability" with Jun. Prof. Dr. Sandra Schmöckel
Master’s thesis project in the department “Physiology of Yield Stability” with Jun. Prof. Dr. Sandra Schmöckel under joint supervision with PhD candidate Marius Kollmar.
The thesis can be done in German or English, but preferentially in English.
Please contact (in German or English): Marius Kollmar marius.kollmar@uni-hohenheim.de
Some more information can also be found at phys.uni-hohenheim.de
Master thesis project on characterization of saponin biosynthesis genes using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Chenopodium quinoa.
We are offering a master thesis project in the department “Physiology of Yield Stability” with Jun. Prof. Dr. Sandra Schmöckel under joint supervision with Dr. Sophie Otterbach.
Quinoa is a major Andean seed crop that has become a popular food product in Europe. A main target trait in quinoa is aiming for a low saponin content in seeds. Saponins have anti-nutritional properties and require removal before consumption. Therefore, efforts focus on the development of accessions with a low saponin content. Elucidating candidate genes for the saponin biosynthesis could be used to breed varieties with low saponin content. Using VIGS on quinoa will help characterize genes involved in saponin biosynthesis. The project will consist of working with plants in the greenhouse, as well as molecular work in the laboratory (such as cloning and qPCR analyses).
We are looking for a motivated and well-organized student with a keen interest in investigating quinoa’s saponin biosynthesis genes. Requirements are a willingness to work in the greenhouse, and some prior laboratory experience. Basic skills in statistics are also desirable.
Start can be as soon as possible.
We offer:
- training in design and planning of experiments (greenhouse and laboratory)
- training in molecular biology methods (cloning, RT-PCR, qPCR)
- training in virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS)
- help to define the research and topic for your MSc thesis, regular meetings to discuss progress, any problems and upcoming research
- provide guidance on writing the MSc thesis
- full integration into the team
The thesis can be done in German or English, but we generally speak English in the lab.
Please contact (in German or English):
Dr. Sophie Otterbach
Our research involves a lot of aspects: we are in the lab and in the field, use crops (for instance quinoa), model organisms (such as Arabidopsis and barley), bacteria and yeasts, we work on secondary metabolites and abiotic stresses... If you are interested to work with us, then please contact us directly. There are always plenty of topics. We want to know what you are interested in!