Name and Surname of the Supervisor: Maria Fernanda Torres Jimenez
Institution (Company), Department: VU LSC IBS
Preliminary Topic: Characterizing fungi diversity in Lithuanian deadwood using metagenomics
Short Description of the Internship Work: This project explores the diversity of fungi inhabiting deadwood across different sites in Lithuania. Using ONT long-read sequencing, this project aims to characterize fungal community composition and compare diversity patterns between sites. This project integrates both laboratory and computational methods. In the lab, the student is expected to extract DNA from wood and prepare samples for sequencing. On the computational side, the student will help set up a bioinformatics pipeline for metagenomic assembly and taxonomic assignment of fungal sequences. Applicants should have prior experience with DNA extraction (experience with recalcitrant samples is desirable but not required) and general molecular biology techniques. Through this project, the student will gain basic experience in bioinformatics; however, familiarity with coding is desirable.
Qualification Requirements (Degree): MSc, MSc completed
Application Deadline: 2025-11-30