Dear prospective Applicant:
First of all let me express my gratitude for your possible interest in the 1st. "Gulbenkian Biology Course" on Plant Development. This Course happens as the natural evolution of the four previous internal courses for the Gulbenkian PhD. Course, and we are working hard to keep up with a continued tradition of excellence, this time with selected students from the whole world.

By now the selection process was due to be over and the candidates selected. It so happens that a totally unwanted situation developed with the putative EMBO support: after some initial positive contacts, the EMBO board raised a number of issues on the course format, and after some time of discussion, neglected the funding. The situation created was serious since a number of irreversible steps were taken by then, namely the participation of outstanding speakers in the field. We had to start a race against time to raise money from other sources and, although the existence of the Course was never in stake, we wanted the standards to stay where we initial set them up to be. We succeeded and I can proudly anounce that the course format actually became improved and more competitive.

There are, however, two practical consequences for the applicants: the bad news is that only now were we able to advertise the course properly (with poster distribution to our mailing lists and advertisements in Nature, Science and Plant Cell), which forces us to postpone the final decision on the candidates to December the 15th. The good news is that, because we realize that it will be impossible for any student to raise money in such a short notice, the 1000 EURO inscription will now cover all the course expenses, namely lodging and meals.

We hope to welcome you in Oeiras next January.

Jose' Feijo'
(Course director)



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CALL FOR STUDENTS





GULBENKIAN BIOLOGY COURSES
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PLANT DEVELOPMENT: The Molecular and Cellular Basis
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28 January- 17 February 2001
Instituto Gulbenkian Ciencia, Oeiras, Portugal,


Scope and Aims:

With the description of several flowering plant genomes near completion, molecular and genetic tools are becoming available for integrative organism-centred approaches. The time has come for putting the organism together again and this will requires close monitoring of in vivo properties and follow-up of the extended processes that each gene or group of genes controls. Developmental biology has emerged as a most challenging area in which this is occurring, as it commands a full understanding of the spatial and temporal integration of processes that allow for growth, differentiation and morphogenesis, three basic properties of biological systems. On the other hand, higher plants represent one of the major evolutionary trends and their genetic and experimental value lift them, in the past decades, to a competitive and challenging field from where major fundamental discoveries have occurred and others are expected to occur.
This course aims to provide the basis for this post-genomic work, with a solid theoretical background and practical training on the most utilised and versatile molecular tools and approaches, but creating the perception of need for interdisciplinary interfaces with cutting-edge biophysical and imaging techniques, and a strong sense of integrative biology. The faculty includes some of the world-leading scientists on plant development. The course organisation will allow for flexibility, free-discussion and aim at fostering productive interactions among all participants.

Faculty will be:


Jose A. Feijo. Gulbenkian Institute for Science/Univ. Lisboa (Head+scientific coordination; [log in to unmask])
Margarida Oliveira, IBET/Univ. Lisboa
(Organisers)

Alice Cheung, Univ. Massachussets, Amherst, USA
Ben Scheres (to confirm), Univ. Utrecht, Netherlands
Enrico Coen, John Innes Res.Inst., UK
Fernando Catarino, Univ.Lisboa and Lisbon Botanical Garden, Portugal
Gerco Angenent, Plant Research International, Wagenigen Univ., Netherlands
Jim Haseloff, Cambridge Univ., UK
Keith Roberts, John Innes Res.Inst., UK
Nam Hai Chua, Rockefeller Univ., USA
Peter Hepler, Univ. Massachussets, Amherst, USA
Richard Amasino, Univ. Winscosin, USA
Rui Malhó, Univ. Lisboa, Portugal
Steve Kay, Scripps Res.Inst., USA
Tony Trewavas, Univ. Edinburgh, UK
William Lucas, Univ. California, Davis, USA



Course format:

60 hours of theoretical sessions (lectures, seminars and discussions);

60-90 hours of laboratory work. This will include DNA extraction and characterisation, plant transformation methods, functional analysis of expression, gene cloning (including comparison of available methods), cDNA library screening, database screening and primer design; Arabidopsis and Petunia mutant screening and directed mutagenesis; transposon tagging and "gene-machines" screening; visual probe design and imaging of GFP and GFP-related proteins.
The course includes a workshop on imaging, with hands-on practice on ratiometric widefield, confocal and multi-photon microscopies, image analysis (with suport from Universal Imaging Corp.), as well as ion-dynamics measurements by means of combined electrophysiological and imaging techniques.
To level the background in plant biology, the first two days will be devoted to the basic features of plants and plant development.


Applications and local conditions:

A group of 16 advanced graduate students and young post-docs will be competitively selected. Due to the desired interdisciplinary philosophy, previous training or education in plant biology in not mandatory, and we will welcome other diverse areas. Inscription fee is 1.000 Euro that covers all theoretical and practical sessions and supporting bibliography. A number of affordable student rooms in the campus are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals can be taken in the Institute's cafetaria at low prices.
A limited number of applications is available. A limited number of fellowships may become available for outstanding candidates with proven need for finantial suport.
Oeiras is a small community with an active science campus, comprising three leading research institutes, located outside Lisboa (20 mins by sub-urban train, and 40 mins from the airport), with several beaches and other leisure/culture places of interest within walking distance.

Applicants should send a short CV and letter of motivation to:

(1) e.mail:
[log in to unmask]

(2) Fax:

Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia
Plant Development /2001 (a/o Maria Matoso)
+351.214407970

(3) Snail mail:

Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia
Plant Development /2001 (a/o Maria Matoso)
PT-2780-156 Oeiras
Portugal



Candidates will be selected and contacted during October 2000.




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Jose' A. Feijo', Prof.
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Inst.Gulbenkian Ciencia, PT-2780-156 Oeiras, PORTUGAL

tel. +351.21.440.79.41, fax +351.21.440.79.70

and

Dep. Biologia Vegetal, Fac.Ciencias, Universidade Lisboa,
Campo Grande, Ed.C2, PT-1749-016 Lisboa, PORTUGAL

tel. +351.21.750.00.69, fax  +351.21.750.00.48
__________________________________________________________
e.mail: [log in to unmask]
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