We seek for 3 candidates for application to the PhD Program in Veterinary and Animal Science of the University of Milan – Class 36 2020/21. The appointments are on a full-time basis for a period of 3 years.

Applicants must have excellent degree scores in Animal Science, Biology, Biotechnology or related fields, possess scientific curiosity, a strong work ethic and be willing to work in a multicultural environment. Previous research experience in reproductive/developmental biology lab as well as molecular biology will be considered an advantage.

The candidates will have the opportunity to work on one of the projects detailed below.

Project 1: Dissecting the factors and mechanisms controlling cell division during early embryogenesis

Contact details: Valentina Lodde, PhD, Associate Professor

Telephone: +39 02 503 17987
Email: valentina.lodde@unimi.it
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9768-2292

State of the art and aims of the project

Oocyte and early embryonic development center around the process of cell division. In mammals, two consecutive asymmetric divisions occur during oocyte maturation and fertilization, while, after fertilization, symmetrical divisions produce small blastomeres during the first mitotic divisions until cell polarity at the time of embryo compaction is established. Disturbance of these highly ordered processes leads to alteration of cell polarity, aneuploidy and embryo death. The cytoskeleton made up of microtubules, actin filaments and associated proteins drive early embryonic divisions. The overall goal of the present project is to study the molecular determinants of oogenesis and early embryonic development and, in particular, to assess the hypothesis that Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 (PGRMC1) functions as a regulator of the cytoskeletal elements remodeling in oocytes and early embryos. In particular we will assess whether disturbance of PGRMC1 expression and function impairs the developmental capacity of mammalian oocytes embryos. Both pharmacological and genetic tools will be used to perturb PGRMC1 activity.

Project 2: Feline ovarian tissue banking: a cryopreservation-culture combined approach for female germplasm conservation

Contact details: Gaia Cecilia Luvoni, DVM, PhD, Dipl ECAR, Professor

Telephone: +39 02 503 18147

E-mail: cecilia.luvoni@unimi.it
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9598-9098

State of the art and aims of the project

Preservation and culture of ovarian tissue are innovative approaches to increase the long-term availability of female gametes. When valuable females suddenly die or undergo spaying for medical reasons, few immature oocytes can be retrieved, cryopreserved and used for in vitro embryo production. The cryopreservation of the ovarian cortex, instead, would allow to collect a wide pool of follicles, thus, theoretically, a higher number of gametes. However, tissue cryopreservation is challenging due to the size of the fragments and to the presence of different cellular types. After warming, the survival and growth of preserved samples in culture are hardly achieved, and we are far from obtaining competent gametes from preserved ovarian tissue in carnivores.

This project, focused on the domestic cat as a model species, will be aimed at:

1. Defining an efficient cryopreservation protocol for feline ovarian tissue.

2. Designing an in vitro culture system able to sustain the long-term culture of tissue fragments.

3. Assessing the long-term survival and development of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in this culture system to establish a cryopreservation-culture combined approach for the safeguard of feline female germplasm.

Project 3: Impact of nutrient imbalance on the epigenetic signature and gene expression of bovine early embryos

Contact details: Federica Franciosi, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor

E-mail: federica.franciosi1@unimi.it

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8742-0291

State of the art and aims of the project

That maternal energetic imbalance impacts the health status of the offspring by predisposing to metabolic disorders later in life is the backbone of the ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’ (DOHaD) and it affects animals as well as mankind. At a molecular level, in utero exposure to either under- or over-nutrition alters the epigenetic landscape of the developing embryo/fetus.

As the majority of the studies focuses on severe energetic imbalance during the entire gestation, there is still a lack of information on the impact of moderate under- and over-nutrition during the peri-conception period, which is the developmental period characterized by the most intense epigenetic remodeling and nuclear reprogramming. Using an in vitro approach, the aim of this study is to investigate if and how a mild energetic imbalance affects the epigenetic remodeling and gene expression profile during pre-implantation development of bovine embryos. First, we will define the concentrations of energetic substrates in the embryo culture medium that will be used to model the in vivo mild energetic shortage and excess by performing dose/response curves. We will then investigate the effect of energetic imbalance on the epigenetic remodeling and gene expression profiling in preimplantation embryos at a whole genome level.

Information on the application procedure can be found at:

https://www.unimi.it/en/education/postgraduate-programmes/doctoral-programmes-phd/ay-2020/2021-veterinary-and-animal-science

https://apps.unimi.it/files/bandi/call-2021-1-veterinary-and-animal-science.pdf?date=07-07-2020

Please note that the access to the PhD Program is through a public competition and candidates will be assessed by an independent Examination Board.

Application Deadline: September 14, 2020, 15.00 (GMT)

Enrollment: starting date: Oct 12-16, 2020

Place:

Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory (www.redbiolab.unimi.it)

University of Milan, Department of Animal Science and Food Safety - Via Celoria, 10 20133 - Milano (MI) - Via dell’Universita 6, 26900 Lodi (LO)