Cells constantly respond to external challenges by changes in gene expression as well as metabolic state. How cells coordinate this interplay between metabolism and genes is a key challenge for future research. We investigate the novel concept of widespread interactions between major components of gene expression (RNA) and metabolism (Enzymes and Metabolites) to form coordinative REM networks. Perturbations of gene regulation as well as metabolism manifest themselves in serious and common diseases including diabetes and obesity, cancer or cardiac disease. The PhD student will be based in the RNA Biology Group headed by T Preiss at The John Curtin School of Medical Research at ANU, Canberra, Australia and will participate in a collaborative project with MW Hentze at The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany, to tackle the relevance of REM networks in cardiac disease. Mass spectrometry will be employed to determine proteins in complex mixtures (proteomics). Similarly, next generation sequencing technology will be used to characterise gene regulation at the level ofRNA.