Shark skin project – master students wanted

Chronic skin wounds are a tremendous medical challenge and therefore wound healing research has become an important and well-investigated field. Sharks live harsh lives and several anecdotal field reports have given examples of their remarkable skin healing capacity. It appears that they heal fast and can recover from extensive injuries. Even though direct experimental studies are lacking, recent genetic studies in white sharks have shown enrichment of genes important for wound healing thus suggesting that sharks may be molecularly adapted for efficient wound healing. The overall goal of this project is to examine experimentally for the first-time speed and detailed characteristics of shark skin wound healing. Two kinds of shark models have been used thus far, and the samples already harvested: the spiny dogfish and the chain catshark.

The initial experimental work for a potential master or PhD student includes:
1. Measuring macroscopic wound size in photograph time series using softwares such as ImageJ. This will generate graphs showing the healing rate.
2. Performing light microscopy of histology slides stained with classical stains such as H&E, Masson's Trichrome, Alcian-Blue and Gram to assess wound size and healing, collagen, mucin and bacterial colonization respectively.

Further work may include:
1. Immunohistochemistry for certain proteins on paraffin sections.
2. Bioinformatic analysis of single nuclei RNA-sequencing data (snRNAseq)
3. Bioinformatic analysis of 16s/18s/ITS-sequencing to assess wound and intact skin microbiome.

We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic, hardworking and fast learning master student that will participate in this exciting and unique shark project. Previous experience in microscopy or image analysis is valuable as well as experience and interest in bioinformatics. The student will perform the experiments with the guidance of a senior researcher. If successful, this project has the potential to turn into a full PhD project and if further in vivo experiments are needed it may include exchange visits to the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, USA.