Name and Surname of the Supervisor: Dominykas Murza
Institution (Company), Department: Department of Single Cell Analysis, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University
Preliminary Topic: Development of small RNA-based cell perturbation method for single cell RNA analysis
Short Description of the Internship Work: Over the past 10 years, single-cell sequencing has enabled the characterization of many cell types and subtypes. However, a large proportion of these studies are descriptive and provide limited insight into the mechanisms that generate cellular diversity. Cellular perturbations can provide such mechanistic information. For example, the expression of a gene of interest can be selectively increased or decreased, followed by measurement of genome-wide changes in gene expression, which can then be used to infer the resulting cellular phenotype.
The aim of this internship is to develop and optimize a small RNA-based cellular perturbation strategy compatible with single-cell small RNA sequencing. The work will include selecting and testing different RNAi strategies in cultured cells, evaluating gene silencing efficiency, and investigating the broader effects of perturbation. Ultimately, this could enable high-throughput perturbation experiments: many different perturbations across many different cells, all within a single experiment and a single tube.
You will learn not only the fundamentals, such as cell culture and working with RNA, but also how to use microfluidic technologies, sequencing methods, and code-based data analysis. You will have the opportunity to test not only our ideas, but also your own, gain independence, and present your results to the scientific community. At least once a week, we will meet to discuss experimental results, challenges, and next steps.
Useful links: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkae1312
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2016.11.038
Qualification Requirements (Degree): BSc, MSc
Application Deadline: 2026-09-30
Additional Comments: We are looking for a student with basic knowledge of molecular biology, particularly gene expression and its regulation, as well as familiarity with standard molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acid purification, PCR, and electrophoresis. Preference will be given to candidates who can commit to the project for at least two study years.