Membrane Trafficking and Development of Plants
Exploring Plant-Environment Interactions and Root Behavior
After completing his studies in Taiwan, Wei pursued his PhD at the University of Bonn in Germany, focusing on synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1) and VAP27-1 at ER-PM contact sites in Arabidopsis. He returned to Taiwan for his first postdoc at Academia Sinica in Paul Verslues' lab, where he investigated drought signaling of various cytoskeleton- and vesicle-associated proteins. Wei then moved to Belgium to join Jenny Russinova at the VIB, where he built the protein interactome of adaptor protein complexes involved in endocytosis. Later, he joined Marco Trujillo's team at RWTH Aachen in Germany, developing strategies for targeted protein degradation (TPD) in plants. In 2024, Wei became an assistant professor at NTU, leading research on plant root behavior, stress responses and intracellular trafficking.
Kai-Chun Peng obtained his Ph.D. from the Institute of Plant Biology at National Taiwan University, where he focused on studying the interaction between phyB-mediated photophysiology and FIN219-mediated defense responses in Hsieh Hsu-Liang's laboratory. Currently, in Wei Siao‘s group, his research is focused on intracellular membrane trafficking. By tracking the molecules' migration between different organelles and analyzing their distribution on membranes, he investigates how membrane molecule dynamics influence root morphology development and mechanosensing in plants.
Pei-Shan Shen obtained a master's degree in the Department of Biological Sciences at National Sun Yat-sen University. In the past, her research focused on the behavior of wild animals. After graduation, she founded "Kids of Forest Studio," dedicated to exploring the wonders of nature with preschool children and their families. Currently, she is also part of Wei Siao's research team, mainly assisting with administrative, financial, and other general management tasks.
Hsiang Lin graduated from the Department of Life Science at National Taiwan University. As an undergraduate, he conducted research on molecular biology in cyanobacteria in Professor Ming-Yang Ho's lab. Driven by his interest in plant cell biology, he joined Siao's lab for his master's studies to investigate the roles of various molecules involved in plant endocytosis and their regulation of plant growth and development.
Positions for PhD student in plant cell biology
Position Description
We are seeking one PhD student to join our team in the Institute of Plant Biology at National Taiwan University in Taipei. This position offers an excellent opportunity for candidates to expand their skill set in a multidisciplinary lab utilizing cutting-edge technologies in protein biochemistry and cell biology. It also provides excellent career development, with mentoring support and ample resources.
The selected candidates will be responsible for conducting research, writing research papers, collaborating with faculty members, and participating in academic conferences. The PhD student will also attend lectures and seminars. Research topics include studying adaptor proteins for clathrin-mediated endocytosis and plant root tropisms, such as hydrotropism, phototropism, and touch responses, regulated by vesicle trafficking and other endomembrane transport systems.
Qualifications
Research skills and ability to conduct independent research
Proficiency in written and oral communication skills
Ability to work collaboratively with faculty members and colleagues
Self-motivation and dedication to academic excellence
Degrees in a relevant field, such as biology, medical or bioinformatic.
Application
Please send your application including, cover letter detailing your motivation for applying, CV, copy of M.Sc. certificate, name and address of three referees in a single file to Wei Siao (weisiao@ntu.edu.tw). For PhD admission and scholarship information, please refer to https://admissions.ntu.edu.tw/
Positions for Master and Bachelor student in plant cell biology
Master students interested in studying plant vesicle trafficking, endocytosis and root tropisms are encouraged to apply. Please feel free to contact me for further discussion. Undergraduate students interested in internships, special topics, summer research, or part-time research assistance are invited to reach out to discuss potential projects.
Application
For Taiwanese students, please feel free to contact me directly (weisiao@ntu.edu.tw).
For international students, please refer to https://admissions.ntu.edu.tw/