Prof AR Mohammed, Dr R Parri
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Applications are invited from ambitious, self-motivated candidates to develop cell based bitter taste assessment assay to replace animal taste testing. The successful candidate will join the active research groups of Dr Afzal Mohammed and Dr Rhein Parri. This opportunity is open to UK and EU students who have at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a biological science or a related subject.
In the production of a medicine for oral administration, palatability is an important consideration. This is of particular importance to ensure patient adherence, compliance and effective therapeutic outcome and is of utmost significance where medicines are intended for paediatric and geriatric use. Animal taste evaluation using rodents is the most commonly used method and involves either surgical procedures or prolonged experimental protocols which can lead to animal distress. Recently, we have isolated, cultured and characterised taste receptor cells in terms of their morphology presence of proteins responsible for taste transduction as well as developed qualitative and quantitative assays for taste identification and differentiation. The current project aims to build on these findings to develop a high throughput and cost effective quantitative assay to differentiate the taste for bitter compounds.
Previous experience of primary cell culture techniques or development of cell based pharmacological markers is desirable.
We will train an excellent young scientist in the use of novel in vitro technology to address the 3Rs principles.
Aston University was ranked in 5th of 94 UK Higher Education Institutions for research in Allied Health Professions (REF 2014) and was ranked 1st for research environment. Additional information about research in the School can be found at http://www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/. Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Afzal Mohammed (E-mail: [Email Address Removed]).
Application Requirements:
● Eligible Applicants should hold at least a Bachelor (Hons.) Degree of either 1st Class/ 2.1 or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
● EU Applicants will need to demonstrate adequate proficiency in English Language skills, with a minimum overall score of 93 (Internet Based) (with a minimum score in each section of: R: 18, W: 23, L: 19 and S: 19) in TOEFL or IELTS with minimum marks of 6.0 in each section and an overall band of 6.5.
● Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr Afzal Mohammed (E-mail: [Email Address Removed]) or Dr Rhein Parri ([Email Address Removed])
●To apply please complete the on-line application form at
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/postgraduate-research/apply/ quoting the Reference: ‘NC3R_Afzal’ on all applications.
● The Closing Date for All Applications is: 13th March 2016.
Funding Notes
UK Students (including EU nationals who have been continuously resident in the UK for the last 3 years) will receive full tuition fees. For UK Student Only - a tax-free stipend will be provided at the current RCUK rate of £14,057 p.a. The studentship is available for three years, subject to satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year with an anticipated Registration date of either before or for the 1st October 2016.
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