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Prof David Grainger
Applications accepted all year round
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Key words: Pathogen, gene regulation, microbiology
The intestines of humans and animals are home to trillions of microorganisms including many different species of bacteria. Most of these bacteria are harmless and actually benefit the host organism. However, some bacteria have evolved molecular systems that allow them to attack unfortunate hosts. Thus, these harmful “pathogenic” bacteria cause severe disease that results in millions of deaths every year. The Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) Vibrio cholerae (Ve) and Yersinia enterocolitica (Ye) all produce the same “heat-stable” toxin that directly targets epithelial cells in the host intestine (1). This toxin forces the host cells to excrete large amounts of water and electrolytes. You will determine the molecular mechanisms via which toxin production is regulated in these different bacteria. You will then study the evolution of these regulatory systems between the different bacteria. You will be trained in the use of state-of-the-art molecular and genomic laboratory techniques (2).
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To find out more about studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham, including full details of the research undertaken in each school, the funding opportunities for each subject, and guidance on making your application, you can now order your copy of the new Doctoral Research Prospectus, at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/drp.aspx
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Please find additional funding text below. For further funding details, please see the ‘Funding’ section.
The School of Biosciences offers a number of UK Research Council (e.g. BBSRC, NERC) PhD studentships each year. Fully funded research council studentships are normally only available to UK nationals (or EU nationals resident in the UK) but part-funded studentships may be available to EU applicants resident outside of the UK. The deadline for applications for research council studentships is in January each year.
Each year we also have a number of fully funded Darwin Trust Scholarships. These are provided by the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh and are for non-UK students wishing to undertake a PhD in the general area of Molecular Microbiology. The deadline for this scheme is also in January each year.
Please note the only funding available for our PhD is via the Scholarships mentioned. All applicants should indicate in their applications how they intend to fund their studies. Any academically suitable applicant that does not indicate how they intend to fund their studies will be considered for the Darwin and/or the Elite Scholarships if not already indicated. We can only consider applicants who have their own funding or wish to apply for their own funding or are successful in gaining a Scholarship.
The intestines of humans and animals are home to trillions of microorganisms including many different species of bacteria. Most of these bacteria are harmless and actually benefit the host organism. However, some bacteria have evolved molecular systems that allow them to attack unfortunate hosts. Thus, these harmful “pathogenic” bacteria cause severe disease that results in millions of deaths every year. The Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) Vibrio cholerae (Ve) and Yersinia enterocolitica (Ye) all produce the same “heat-stable” toxin that directly targets epithelial cells in the host intestine (1). This toxin forces the host cells to excrete large amounts of water and electrolytes. You will determine the molecular mechanisms via which toxin production is regulated in these different bacteria. You will then study the evolution of these regulatory systems between the different bacteria. You will be trained in the use of state-of-the-art molecular and genomic laboratory techniques (2).
___
To find out more about studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham, including full details of the research undertaken in each school, the funding opportunities for each subject, and guidance on making your application, you can now order your copy of the new Doctoral Research Prospectus, at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/drp.aspx
___
Please find additional funding text below. For further funding details, please see the ‘Funding’ section.
The School of Biosciences offers a number of UK Research Council (e.g. BBSRC, NERC) PhD studentships each year. Fully funded research council studentships are normally only available to UK nationals (or EU nationals resident in the UK) but part-funded studentships may be available to EU applicants resident outside of the UK. The deadline for applications for research council studentships is in January each year.
Each year we also have a number of fully funded Darwin Trust Scholarships. These are provided by the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh and are for non-UK students wishing to undertake a PhD in the general area of Molecular Microbiology. The deadline for this scheme is also in January each year.
Please note the only funding available for our PhD is via the Scholarships mentioned. All applicants should indicate in their applications how they intend to fund their studies. Any academically suitable applicant that does not indicate how they intend to fund their studies will be considered for the Darwin and/or the Elite Scholarships if not already indicated. We can only consider applicants who have their own funding or wish to apply for their own funding or are successful in gaining a Scholarship.
Funding Notes
Research Council Studentships are available for UK applicants. EU applicants resident in the UK may also be eligible. Non-UK students interested in molecular microbiology may apply for a Darwin Trust Scholarship. The deadline for applications for Research Council and Darwin Trust studentships is 31st January 2014.
We have a thriving community of International PhD students and encourage applications at any time from students of any nationality either able to fund their own studies or who wish to apply for their own funding (e.g. Commonwealth Scholarship Council, Islamic Development Bank).
For further information on funding see http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/courses/postgraduate/phd.aspx
We have a thriving community of International PhD students and encourage applications at any time from students of any nationality either able to fund their own studies or who wish to apply for their own funding (e.g. Commonwealth Scholarship Council, Islamic Development Bank).
For further information on funding see http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/courses/postgraduate/phd.aspx
References
(1) Fleckenstein JM, Hardwidge PR, Munson GP, Rasko DA, Sommerfelt H, Steinsland H. (2010) Molecular mechanisms of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection. Microbes. Infect. 12: 89-98.
(2) Grainger DC, Busby SJ. (2008) Methods for studying global patterns of DNA binding by bacterial transcription factors and RNA polymerase. Biochem Soc Trans. 36: 754-7.
(2) Grainger DC, Busby SJ. (2008) Methods for studying global patterns of DNA binding by bacterial transcription factors and RNA polymerase. Biochem Soc Trans. 36: 754-7.
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Career overview
Professor David Grainger received his first degree in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham in 1999. He then trained as a teacher at the University of Wolverhampton in 2000. After his teaching qualification, he returned to the University of Birmingham to complete his PhD studies in 2004. Following his PhD, he worked as a post-doctoral research associate, where he developed high-throughput techniques to map gene regulatory events in bacteria. In 2008, he was awarded a Career Development Fellowship by the Wellcome Trust, which he used to establish his research group at the University of Warwick. During his time there, he collaborated with biophysical scientists and began studying DNA and its interactions at the single-molecule level. In March 2011, he relocated his research group to the University of Birmingham, where his current research focuses on deciphering the chromosome biology of pathogenic bacteria.
Research interests
Professor Grainger''s research focuses on bacterial chromosome biology, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance mechanisms. He employs high-throughput analysis of DNA binding events and single-molecule analysis to understand the biology of bacterial chromosomes. His current research interests include deciphering how gene regulation is managed on a chromosome-wide scale, how pathogens control the production of toxins, and the molecular pathways leading to multiple antibiotic resistance. He has established collaborations with biophysical scientists to study DNA interactions at the single-molecule level.
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