Designer genetic programs for advanced cellular information processing and dynamic bioprocess control

Interested individuals must follow steps 1, 2 and 3 on this link on how to apply:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/biology/postgraduate/pgr/how-to-apply

If you would like us to consider you for one of our scholarships you must apply by 5.00pm on the 16th January 2015 at the latest.

Microbial cells live in an ever changing environment and must therefore be equipped with specific genetically-encoded sensors and signalling networks to continuously perceive and process the various environmental signals. In this sense, cells can be viewed as replicating living computers but with biochemical inputs and outputs. This project aims to design and construct synthetic gene circuits to program living bacterial cells with designer functions, in particular for advanced sensing, information processing and control of multiple cellular and environmental signals with application, for example, in microbial cell factories.

You will be guided to construct various genetic programs including novel sensors, genetic logic gates, amplifiers, computing and memory circuits. The integration of these circuit modules will lead to a programmable microbial microprocessor (a biological computer). The biological processor will then enable the programmed cells to have a range of intelligent capabilities for application in areas including bioprocessing, bioremediation and biotherapies. For instance, the engineered tools can be applied to enhance the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway in phototrophic cyanobacteria for producing the blockbuster anti-cancer drug paclitaxel precursors across changing environmental and growth conditions. You will also be guided to develop new biological circuit design principles by exploiting design principles in other engineering systems such as modularity, orthogonality, systematic characterization and modelling to increase the predictability and scalability of gene circuit design and assembly.

The project will provide the student a comprehensive training of advanced molecular cloning and genetic tools, innovative synthetic biology and microbiology techniques and computational modelling skills. The research thus gives the student a true inter-disciplinary research experience and cutting edge technologies exposure to prepare well for his/her future research career. The student may also benefit from the opportunity to work collaboratively with some of our world leading industrial partners in biotechnology.

Further information about the lab can be found at http://wang.bio.ed.ac.uk/ and informal enquiries may be made to [Email Address Removed].