Zhopngying Zhao)

It takes less than a decade to produce the genome sequences of not only model organisms, but also these species of high economic value. Recent development of high-throughput sequencing technologies have made the genome sequencing of nearly species within reach by a single laboratory. One of the biggest challenges is to understand how the stored information within a genome orchestrates the formation of various cell/tissue types from a single-celled fertilized egg during metazoan development.

Using a combination of genetic, biochemical, cellular and computational approaches, we are interested in how the stored genetic information is used in a step-wise manner to enable faithful development of an animal with exceptional and temporal resolution using small nematode species, C. elegans or its close relatives as a model. The round worm is a well-developed model organism with many unique features, including but not limited to invariant cell lineage with only 959 and 558 somatic cells in a hermaphrodite adult, a short life cycle (~3 days in room temperature), and transparent body. Despite tiny in size, around 20,000 protein-coding genes are found in its genome, the number of which is comparable to ourselves. We are also interested in how the two related genomes become incompatible between each other when put in the same animal through genetic crossing.

A C. elegans larvae expressing mCherry in intestine and GFP in neurons

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship available!

We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic graduate students or undergraduate students to join Dr. Zhao's group in the Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong as a regular PhD candidate or a candidate for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship. See here for details. The successful candidates will work on the regulatory pathways of cell fate differentiation of embryonic stem cells during animal embryogenesis using C. elegans as a model. Alternatively, the candidates will work on the molecular mechanism of hybrid incompatibility between related nematode species. More details on our research are available here. The candidate should have strong background in genetics, genomics and/or molecular biology as well as reasonable score of TOEFL or IELTS. Experience in bioinformatics and/or statistics is a plus but not required. He or she is expected to work in an interdisciplinary environment with both computational biologists and bench scientists. Successful candidates will get monthly salary of 24,000 Hong Kong dollars plus at least 20,000 Hong Kong dollars annually for international conference as well as medical and dental benefits for consecutive three years supported by Hong Kong government. Affordable housing on campus will be provided if needed. Interested candidates should send a CV, along with contact info for at least two referees to email (zyzhao@hkbu.edu.hk). Application deadline is October 15th, 2023.

Hong Kong government-funded PhD positions

We are recruiting multiple PhD students to study the genetics and genomics of species hybrids and/or live-cell imaging of embryogenesis for -single-cell analysis. Please see the details of our research at the link. The successful candidates will be fully funded by the Hong Kong government with a monthly salary of approximately 18,000 HKD per month, a one-time entry scholarship of 10,000 HKD, plus medical benefits and travel grant of 20,000 HKD per year for up to four years. Those with a master degree in genetics, molecular biology and genome biology or relevant major are encouraged to apply. The highly competitive candidates will be qualified for Hong Kong PhD Scholarship with a monthly salary of 27,100 HKD per month plus entry scholarship of 35,000 HKD. See details in the link. Candidates with a bachelor degree and an exceptional academic/research background in the relevant field will also be considered. To apply for the PhD program, you will need provide your English proficiency plus your academic transcripts of your undergraduate and graduate studies. For English proficiency, students are required to meet the requirement of TOEFL (Reading ≥18; Listening ≥18; Speaking≥18; Writing≥19) or IELTS (at least 5.5 for Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing) (see details in the link). If you don’t have either of the exam results, you can use your CET-6 (大学英语六级考试) grade as a substitute if you achieved a good result. The application is open till August 1st 2023 or till the position is filled. You are expected to start your PhD study in the beginning of January of 2024. If you are interested in the positions, please send a copy of your CV, your academic transcripts to Prof. Zhao by email: zyzhao@hkbu.edu.hk.

Research Assistants

We are recruiting multiple research assistants to study the genetics and genomics of species hybrids and/or live-cell imaging of embryogenesis for -single-cell analysis. Interested candidates should send a CV, along with contact info for at least two referees to email (zyzhao@hkbu.edu.hk). Application deadline is November 15th, 2023 or till the position is filled.