PhD Research Project

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Impact of antivirals on river ecology

Institution:

Imperial College London

Dept/School/Faculty:

Department of Life Sciences

PhD Supervisor:

Dr T Bell

Application Deadline:

No more applications being accepted

Funding Availability:

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Project

Predators and pathogens often determine the makeup of ecological communities by modifying competitive interactions. In this context, the project will focus on how viruses impact microbial communities in UK rivers. Large quantities of antivirals pass through sewage treatment plants and are deposited into UK rivers, but the effect of antivirals on river ecology remains virtually unexplored. The project will investigate how antivirals alter native communities of river viruses, and whether this has subsequent impacts on competitive interactions among bacteria. The project will also systematically explore the antiviral properties of natural chemicals from plants and microorganisms and their role in shaping microbial communities.

Requirements: You should hold, or realistically expect to obtain, at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent and a Masters degree or equivalent experience.
Students with backgrounds in ecology or microbiology will be considered. Evidence of experience with molecular methods or chemical ecology would be advantageous but not required.

For more information or informal inquiries please contact Dr. Thomas Bell (thomas.bell@imperial.ac.uk, http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/thomas.bell).

To apply, please send a CV, a cover letter briefly describing your research background and how it is relevant to the studentship, contact information of two references, and a list of relevant past coursework to Dr. Bell.

The project will be in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Singer at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (http://www.ceh.ac.uk/StaffWebPages/DrAndrewSinger.html).

Deadline is 18-May-2012. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted soon thereafter for interview.

Funding Notes:

Fully funded studentship

Eligibility: UK nationals, EU nationals who have spent at least 3 years prior to the application resident in the UK. Non-UK residents might be considered if the research organization can demonstrate a shortage of high-quality UK candidates.