TOEFL TPO -1 Writing Task 2 Sample: to write the motivation for you to choose the specific research programs
program1:The plant pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis deliver small RNA effectors into
their host plants to suppress plant immunity genes (1, 2); a process known as cross-kingdom RNAi (3). How
are pathogen small RNAs transported into plant cells? Recent studies suggest that extracellular vesicles
(EVs) (4), play an important role in plant cross-kingdom host-pathogen communication (5). Are EVs a
means of RNA transport during plant infection?
We are seeking for a talented young career researcher, who is passionate about molecular biology and RNA
science, and is willing to join our team and take together with us the next step for uncovering the fascinating,
yet unknown mechanisms involved in cross-kingdom RNAi. The research project offers to elucidate the
molecular mechanisms and functions of EV-based small RNA transport from pathogens into the host plants
Arabidopsis and tomato. By mass spec analysis, we identified protein candidates to be involved in small RNA
transport and cross-kingdom RNA communication. Your task will be to unravel their functions by applying
modern genetical, biochemical, and cell biological methods that will pave the way for a better understanding
of the RNA delivery mechanisms from pathogens into host plants and to use this knowledge to develop
innovative RNAi-based crop protection strategies
program2:
Plants grow in a diverse community with microorganismic interactors, which range from pathogens to
beneficial symbionts. In recent years, it has become apparent that the plant epigenome, the combination
of chemical modifications to DNA and histones, plays a role in modulating both pathogenic and symbiotic
interactions (reviewed in Ramos Cruz et al., Curr Opin Plant Biol 2021).
In this project, we want to identify which epigenomic loci are associated with the overall plant microbiome
profile. Using a set of well-characterized Arabidopsis thaliana lines that have mosaic DNA methylation
patterns, we will profile the overall root and leaf microbiome of these plants when grown in the same soil
using metagenome sequencing via 16S rRNA and ITS profiling. We will then map microbial diversity and
relative abundance to the epigenomic variation and combine these analyses with de novo generated
transcriptome profiles. Our goal is to identify loci that are subject to epigenetic regulation and that
modulate the overall interaction with microbial organisms. In a second phase, we will transition from the
A. thaliana model to crop plants.
The project is embedded in a group with very diverse expertise, ranging from Bioinformatics and Genomics
to Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology. We are looking for candidates with a solid background in
molecular biology and genetics; expertise in computational data analysis and/or plant biology is a plus.
Candidates should have an advanced level in spoken and written English.
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