Dr G Hudson
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
This Phd studentship aims to investigate the role of inherited and acquired mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation on the transcriptomic profiles of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients in order to increase our understanding of the development of mitochondrially-mediated age-related neurodegenerative disease.
This project will build upon recent work in our laboratory, investigating the role of inherited and acquired mtDNA variation on neurodegeration, to improve our understanding of how mtDNA mutation causes neuronal cell death in PD. To achieve this, we will use tissue samples (available from UK brain banks) to compare transcript abundance between PD patients and asymptomatic controls using state-of-the-art RNA sequencing technology based at the Institute of Genetic Medicine. In addition, we will investigate the interplay between the mitochondrial and nuclear genome and how this intragenomic communication breaks down to cause neurodegenerative disease.
Cross-disciplinary training will be provided in mitochondrial function, experimental methods, and bioinformatics and will be conducted at the Institute of Genetic Medicine.
This work has direct implications to understanding the mitochondrial involvement in Parkinson’s disease, but also has broader implications to our understanding of age-related neurodegeneration – an area that is increasingly important in an ever increasing aged population.
Funding Notes
Sponsor: This Phd studentship is supported by the Newcastle University Research Fellowship scheme (NURF) and Parkinson’s UK.
The funding covers one year MRes following by a three year PhD. The award covers fees at the UK/EU rate and an annual stipend of £14,057 (2015/16)
Project Start Date: September 2015
References
You must have, or expect to achieve, a minimum of an upper-second-class Honours degree or international equivalent, in a biological subject. Students with further research experience and/or a further qualification such as, for example, an MRes may be eligible for a three year PhD.
Ideally you should have an interest in the genetics age-related disease and experience in bioinformatics and next generation sequencing is welcomed.
This award is available to UK/EU and International applicants, but the award only covers fees at the UK/EU rate.
If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 7 with at least 6.5 in the written component, or equivalent.
How to apply
You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application form (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/). Only mandatory fields need to be completed. However, you will need to include the following information:
• insert the programme code 4850F in the programme of study section
• select ‘Master of Research/Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Sciences) - Human Genetics’ as the programme of study
• insert the studentship code HG057 in the studentship/partnership reference field
• attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote the studentship reference code HG057 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project
• attach degree transcripts and certificates and,if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications
Please also send your covering letter and CV to Dr Gavin Hudson by email to Gavin.Hudson@ncl.ac.uk
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