Abdominal pain has a profound effect on the quality of life experienced by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As part of a research consortium funded by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, to investigate the mechanistic endotypes driving chronic pain in IBD, we are pleased to offer a 3-year PhD studentship evaluating the contribution of cytokine signalling to visceral nociception in IBD. This studentship will be based at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, and will work closely with fellow consortium members based at QMUL (Prof Qasim Aziz), INSERM Toulouse (Prof Nathalie Vergnolle) and Sorbonne University (Prof Harry Sokol).
This PhD builds on a body of work from the Bulmer lab performed in collaboration with fellow consortium members which has utilised human tissue to identify new drug targets for pain in gastrointestinal disease and neuroimmune interactions (Hockley et al, (2014) PAIN 155 (10): 1962-1975; McGuire et al (2018) Gut. 67(1):86-96; Bautzova et al (2018) Sci Signal. 11(561); Barker et al (2022) BioRxiv). This studentship will explore cytokine mediated pain signalling utilising ex-vivo electrophysiological recording and calcium imaging from mouse and human nociceptors in combination with tissue samples from IBD patients characterised into mechanistic pain endotypes by clinical, pathological, and omics profiling performed within the consortium.
Applicants must have or expect to obtain at least an upper 2nd class honours science degree (or equivalent). The appointee will be motivated, capable of developing his or her own ideas, and keen to interact effectively with other lab members.
The studentship is for up to 3 years and will provide a stipend at the standard Research Council rate, research costs and tuition fees. Please note that the start date will be Lent Term 2023.
Funding is available only for UK or EAA students who meet the UK residency requirements. but please see information here regarding EU fee status for entry 2022 and onwards: https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees.
How to apply
All applications will need to be made through the University Application Portal: https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/blphpdphc/apply
For further information about the programme and to access the Applicant Portal. Please note that the course code for PhD applications to Pharmacology is BLPH22. Whilst making your online application please make clear that you are applying for; proposed supervisor Dr David Bulmer and title "Cytokine signalling and visceral pain in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)".
Your online application will need to include:
- Two academic references
- Transcript
- CV/resume
- Statement of interest (no more than 300 words)
- Application cost £75 (you have 3 applications)
The deadline for submission is 31st August 2022, with interviews likely to take place on 9th September 2022.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.
Informal enquiries about the research project can be directed to Dr Bulmer at [Email Address Removed].
Informal enquiries about the application process must be sent to [Email Address Removed].
Please quote reference PL30618 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK
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