The group is interested in understanding from an evolutionary perspective the molecular processes that control the development and differentiation of specific neural/sensory structures (eg. photoreceptors) by using the model system ascidia Ciona robusta. In this context, the student will have the opportunity to analyse the differential transcriptomics results obtained from Ciona photoreceptor cell precursors and will follow the ongoing experiments. He/she will learn to manage and set up a series of molecular biology techniques ranging from PCR amplification, cloning of DNA fragments, DNA/RNA preparation, in situ hybridization etc. The student will also use various types of microscopes (e.g. stereomicroscopes, Axio Imager Zeiss microscope, confocal microscope) to study the different phases of embryonic development and will learn to capture bright-field and/or fluorescent images.